Sebastian Usher

Essentially, these are amendments, and there's been an awful lot of pressure to try to stop this for months now by women's rights activists who are alarmed by the fact that it will allow Iraqis, and when we say allow, I mean within the context of certain elements of society, there probably won't be any choice actually there, but to choose when they're looking at the issues of marriage, of divorce, of bringing up of children, custody, etc.,

Essentially, these are amendments, and there's been an awful lot of pressure to try to stop this for months now by women's rights activists who are alarmed by the fact that it will allow Iraqis, and when we say allow, I mean within the context of certain elements of society, there probably won't be any choice actually there, but to choose when they're looking at the issues of marriage, of divorce, of bringing up of children, custody, etc.,

to choose whether they go with the civil law or they go with the religious law, which belongs to their Islamic sect, the Sunni or the Shia. Now, the real headline of this has been about the age at which girls could be married under these changes.

to choose whether they go with the civil law or they go with the religious law, which belongs to their Islamic sect, the Sunni or the Shia. Now, the real headline of this has been about the age at which girls could be married under these changes.

Under the personal status law, that is 18, although there is some allowance made if there are safeguards for a religious dispensation for younger than that to 15, I think, under Sunni law. The concern is, that many girls now will not be married under the civil law, but under the Sunni or the Shia law.

Under the personal status law, that is 18, although there is some allowance made if there are safeguards for a religious dispensation for younger than that to 15, I think, under Sunni law. The concern is, that many girls now will not be married under the civil law, but under the Sunni or the Shia law.

Under the Shia law, the biggest concern was that under one school of Shia Islamic law, the Jafari school, girls can technically, though this is very rare, be allowed to marry as young as nine. My understanding is that that particular way that that might be allowed, that Shia religious authorities have said that that won't happen.

Under the Shia law, the biggest concern was that under one school of Shia Islamic law, the Jafari school, girls can technically, though this is very rare, be allowed to marry as young as nine. My understanding is that that particular way that that might be allowed, that Shia religious authorities have said that that won't happen.

But certainly allowing girls to be married as young as 15, this will potentially make that easier. There won't be a court system which can intervene in the way that it has before. Also, other rights, particularly relating to women over the custody of children, over rights to divorce, over inheritance, all of those women are potentially going to lose out under Islamic law.

But certainly allowing girls to be married as young as 15, this will potentially make that easier. There won't be a court system which can intervene in the way that it has before. Also, other rights, particularly relating to women over the custody of children, over rights to divorce, over inheritance, all of those women are potentially going to lose out under Islamic law.

To a degree, yes. And I mean, the fact that it's been passed, despite the pressure, not just inside Iraq, but outside, shows that particularly the Shia religious authorities, I mean, they are the majority religious sect in Iraq. It shows that they have year by year gained more power, really, politically than as well as socially and religiously.

To a degree, yes. And I mean, the fact that it's been passed, despite the pressure, not just inside Iraq, but outside, shows that particularly the Shia religious authorities, I mean, they are the majority religious sect in Iraq. It shows that they have year by year gained more power, really, politically than as well as socially and religiously.

So I think it's a sign of that, and I think that's one of the main concerns. They themselves, the religious authorities, say this is simply according to Islamic law and that everything will be done responsibly and with justice as the key element. But certain elements of Islamic law do favour men in certain instances, particularly to do with the family.

So I think it's a sign of that, and I think that's one of the main concerns. They themselves, the religious authorities, say this is simply according to Islamic law and that everything will be done responsibly and with justice as the key element. But certain elements of Islamic law do favour men in certain instances, particularly to do with the family.

This is not just an issue in Iraq, this is an issue across much of the Arab world.

This is not just an issue in Iraq, this is an issue across much of the Arab world.

Well, we heard from the Israeli prime minister's office two or three hours ago now saying that Hamas was creating a last minute crisis. Now, the Israeli negotiating team is still in Qatar. This is where these talks have been taking place. This is despite the fact that the Qatari prime minister announced the deal had been accepted by both sides.

Well, we heard from the Israeli prime minister's office two or three hours ago now saying that Hamas was creating a last minute crisis. Now, the Israeli negotiating team is still in Qatar. This is where these talks have been taking place. This is despite the fact that the Qatari prime minister announced the deal had been accepted by both sides.

President Biden, the president elect Donald Trump have all announced that it's a done deal. From the Israeli side, there's a suggestion that this could still go off the rails and the blame being put on Hamas.

President Biden, the president elect Donald Trump have all announced that it's a done deal. From the Israeli side, there's a suggestion that this could still go off the rails and the blame being put on Hamas.