Underage Marriage Growing in Iraqi Cities

He further revealed, “The mother of my daughters died years ago, and they had to drop out of school, because of the education fees. Then they started working for a daily wage.”

The economic situation indeed plays a role in “legitimizing” underage marriages. Sheikhs and other men in general link their sexual desire to their need for children, who will carry out agricultural production.

Thus, increasing the number of offspring becomes a pretext for agreeing to uneven marriages, which eventually collapse because of the moral and social differences inherent in the age differences.

The negative health effects on girls from this type of marriage seem to be of secondary or no concern to many people due to their ignorance or illiteracy.

Dr. Zainab Fadel confirmed to Al-Monitor, “The marriage of a minor entails health risks for her. For instance, pregnancy becomes a high risk in her life, because of the possibility of miscarriage and severe bleeding.” She called for “enacting laws to promote marriage at a safe age.”

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, of the total number of married women in 2013, 11% were underage marriages. Experts stress the need to raise awareness of the dangers of this phenomenon by supporting civil society organizations addressing social issues, in particular women's' issues, and through media platforms and outlets.

Ali al-Atabi, a sheikh from Najaf, told Al-Monitor, “The use of religious platforms in this quest would be very helpful, as many are affected and influenced by religious circles in society.” He also pointed out, however, “Islamic law does not allow raising the legal age for marriage [considering that] ordinances to do so have nothing to do with religion.”

Regarding efforts to stanch this phenomenon, Ismail Hassan, a lawyer, said to Al-Monitor, “There is a need to find the roots of this phenomenon and treat it on a legal level, as the Iraqi Personal Status Law allows the marriage of girls as of the age of 15.”