Age of Consent in Iraq now decided by Religious Leaders

The Age of Consent in Iraq, which was previously fixed at eighteen year old, can now be influenced by religious leaders accord the beliefs of their various Islamic 'sects'.

"Iraqi law currently sets 18 as the minimum age of marriage in most cases. However, the changes passed on Tuesday would let clerics rule according to their interpretation of Islamic law, which some interpret to allow marriage of girls in their early teens - or as young as nine under the Jaafari school of Islamic law followed by many shi-ite religious authorities in Iraq."
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/u...-just-34533628

As if that's not bead enough, they're now planning pass a general amnesty law to release males previously convicted of breaking the under 18 law.


I realise it's a touchy subject but any religion that allows... in fact actively encourages... sexual abuse of children as young as nine is, IMO, reprehensible.

I was watching a Muslim scholar talking about this the other day.

He said that whilst their scriptures give no defined answer on age of consent, Islamic law has generally been guided by societal norms. Obviously societal norms have changed down the years. It's generally accepted by religious scholars that Mary was about 15 in the Bible, likewise Juliet was 13-14 in a love story that is still learned in schools today (and indeed some countries have a 'Romeo and Juliet clause around consent). Even today in a relatively small area like Europe the age of consent varies quite a bit from 14 in Italy and Germany to 18 in Malta and Turkey.

I suppose the issue is how do you account for societal norms when religious law and civil law are inextricably linked or rather one and the same? When the religious laws draws from a text that had a Prophet who married a 7 year old? In Europe whilst some may find 14 young for consent it's hardly obscene; when there is scope to say it's 'normal' to have sex with 9 year olds based on the societal norm of 1500 years ago it becomes just a bit more complex.

The obvious answer is to keep religion and the law totally separate; I think most of us whatever our beliefs would get behind that even if our own morality is guided at times by religions. In Iran that isn't an option currently though and I don't really see a solution. It's abhorrent really probably needs a voice from within their own religious community to decry it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Keith_M

The Age of Consent in Iraq, which was previously fixed at eighteen year old, can now be influenced by religious leaders accord the beliefs of their various Islamic 'sects'.

"Iraqi law currently sets 18 as the minimum age of marriage in most cases. However, the changes passed on Tuesday would let clerics rule according to their interpretation of Islamic law, which some interpret to allow marriage of girls in their early teens - or as young as nine under the Jaafari school of Islamic law followed by many shi-ite religious authorities in Iraq."
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/u...-just-34533628

As if that's not bead enough, they're now planning pass a general amnesty law to release males previously convicted of breaking the under 18 law.


I realise it's a touchy subject but any religion that allows... in fact actively encourages... sexual abuse of children as young as nine is, IMO, reprehensible.

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Religion has the power of one group of people over another at its heart. Sexual abuse is also about power.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Colr

Religion has the power of one group of people over another at its heart. Sexual abuse is also about power.

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The first sentence is rubbish in my opinion and an insult to the billions around the world who are adherents to various religions. I do agree that religion should not be used as a cover to lower the age of consent.