National Accord warns against proposed amendments to personal status law

BAGHDAD – The National Accord Party, spearheaded by Iraq’s former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, issued a stark warning against proposed amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law, asserting these changes could severely undermine justice and equality, and potentially realign the Penal Code with Sharia law.

The Iraqi parliament conducted the first reading of proposed controversial amendments to the Personal Status Law on Sunday, despite public protests and political discord.

“This amendment, which seeks to implement Sharia provisions according to various sects, poses a serious threat to the principle of justice and equality that should prevail in our laws,” the statement read.

The proposed amendments have sparked particular controversy for provisions that could permit child marriage for girls as young as nine within the Shia Jaafari sect, and others that would allow a man to marry a second wife without the consent of his first wife. These amendments could also enable couples to retroactively apply sectarian laws to their marriage.

Highlighting the timing and nature of these legislative changes, the party stated, “Introducing amendments to laws, especially those that are controversial and lead to societal division, is unwise at this time.” They emphasized the necessity of considering the public interest and fostering unity rather than division.

In a demonstration of solidarity against these proposals, female members from various political factions in the Iraqi Parliament have formed a new bloc to challenge the amendments.

The statement also echoed concerns raised during a recent meeting of civil society organizations in Baghdad, which convened to oppose these amendments. “Influential sectarian political forces are attempting to hide the negative aspects of their governance and cover up corruption cases that periodically surface, aiming to distract society,” they claimed, underscoring the perceived political motives behind the changes.

Further, the party cautioned against any moves to revise the penal code to be more in line with Islamic Sharia, noting such changes could introduce penalties that are out of step with human rights and international standards.

“We need a balanced approach that safeguards individuals’ rights and respects their human dignity, rather than reverting to outdated methods that could lead to the spread of harsh and inconsistent punishments,” the statement concluded, advocating for laws that ensure broad protection and equality for all Iraqi citizens.