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Against child marriage: the battle for Iraq’s Personal Status Law 188
Once among the most progressive in the Middle East, Iraq’s legal protections for women face systematic dismantling under conservative religious and political pressures, reports SALMA SAADAWI of the Iraqi Women’s League

EVERY year on March 8, the world commemorates International Women’s Day, a moment to celebrate achievements in gender equality and highlight ongoing struggles.

In Iraq, this day serves as a solemn reminder of the persistent challenges Iraqi women face, particularly in light of recent setbacks in the Iraqi Personal Status Law and the increasing restrictions imposed on women’s rights.

One of the most alarming developments in recent years has been the attempted reversal of legal protections for women, including the push for laws that permit the marriage of minors and limit women’s freedoms.

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