The Iraqi Parliament has initiated the legislative process to reduce the legal age for girls to marry from 15-years-old to just nine years of age.

The new personal status law being discussed which will legalize female child marriages nationwide is based on Sharia law.

The amendments to Law No. 188 of the Personal Status Law of 1959 have been heavily promoted by the Coordination Framework, a coalition of the Shia Islamist parties that form the largest bloc in parliament.

Citizens opposed to the female child marriage legislation are bravely protesting in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square.

However, there appears to be wide support for the legislation in the region, with Iraqi politicians publicly sharing their support for female child marriage.

Imam Zabi wrote on X, “Great news we hope America follows along with Sharia law!”

“Child marriages work. Bastards are talking from view their whole country is full of broken families and divorces and gold diggers while lecturing nations that are gold standard to family values and strong and happy marriages!”

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is home to at least 40 million child brides, according to UNICEF.

Every year, more than 700,000 young girls are forced into marriages with adult men.

At least 24% of Iraqi women were forced into marriage while still children, with that number set to skyrocket if the new legislation is passed.