Fears for women’s rights as Iraqi bill resurfaces

Fears for women’s rights as Iraqi bill resurfaces
Activists demonstrate against female child marriages in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad on July 28, 2024, amid parliamentary discussion over a proposed amendment to the Iraqi Personal Status Law (AFP)
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Updated 08 August 2024
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Fears for women’s rights as Iraqi bill resurfaces

Fears for women’s rights as Iraqi bill resurfaces
  • Bill would allow citizens to choose either religious authorities or the civil judiciary to decide on family affairs

Baghdad: Rights advocates are alarmed by a bill introduced to Iraq’s parliament that, they fear, would roll back women’s rights and increase underage marriage in the deeply patriarchal society.

The bill would allow citizens to choose either religious authorities or the civil judiciary to decide on family affairs. Critics fear this will lead to a slashing of rights in matters of inheritance, divorce and child custody.

In particular, they are worried it would effectively scrap the minimum age for Muslim girls to marry, which is set in the 1959 Personal Status Law at 18 — charges lawmakers supporting the changes have denied.

According to the United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, 28 percent of girls in Iraq are already married before the age of 18.

“Passing this law would show a country moving backwards, not forward,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) researcher Sarah Sanbar said.

Amal Kabashi, from the Iraq Women’s Network advocacy group, said the amendment “provides huge leeway for male dominance over family issues” in an already conservative society.

Activists have demonstrated against the proposed changes and were planning to protest again later Thursday in Baghdad.

The 1959 legislation passed shortly after the fall of the Iraqi monarchy and transferred the right to decide on family affairs from religious authorities to the state and its judiciary.

This looks set to be weakened under the amendment, backed by conservative Shiite Muslim deputies, that would allow the enforcement of religious rules, particularly Shiite and Sunni Muslim.

There is no mention of other religions or sects which belong to Iraq’s diverse population.

In late July, parliament withdrew the proposed changes when many lawmakers objected to them. They resurfaced in an August 4 session after receiving the support of powerful Shiite blocs which dominate the chamber.

It is still unclear if this bid to change the law will succeed where several earlier attempts have failed.

“We have fought them before and we will continue to do so,” Kabashi said.

Amnesty International’s Iraq researcher Razaw Salihy said the proposed changes should be “stopped in their tracks.”

“No matter how it is dressed up, in passing these amendments, Iraq would be closing a ring of fire around women and children,” she said.

According to the proposed changes, “Muslims of age” who want to marry must choose whether the 1959 Personal Status Law or Sharia Islamic rules apply to them on family matters.

They also allow already-married couples to convert from the civil law to religious regulations.

Constitutional expert Zaid Al-Ali said the 1959 law “borrowed the most progressive rules of each different sect, causing a huge source of irritation for Islamic authorities.”

Several attempts to abrogate the law and revert to traditional Islamic rules have been made since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

This time, lawmakers are maintaining the 1959 law by giving people a chance to choose it over religious authorities.

“They are giving men the option to shop in their own favor,” Ali said. The bill would hand them “more power over women and more opportunities to maintain wealth, control over children, and so on.”

By giving people a choice, “I think basically they’re trying to increase the chances of the law being adopted,” Ali said.

The new bill gives Shiite and Sunni institutions six months to present to parliament for approval a set of rules based on each sect.

By giving power over marriage to religious authorities, the amendment would “undermine the principle of equality under Iraqi law,” Sanbar of HRW said.

It also “could legalize the marriage of girls as young as nine years old, stealing the futures and well-being of countless girls.”

“Girls belong on the playground and in school, not in a wedding dress,” she said.

HRW warned earlier this year that religious leaders in Iraq conduct thousands of unregistered marriages each year, including child marriages, in violation of the current law.

Many argue that historically Islam has allowed the marriage of pubescent girls from the age of nine, as the Prophet Muhammad is said to have married one of his wives Aisha at that age.

But rights group say child marriages violate human rights, deprive girls of education and employment, and exposes them to violence.

Lawmaker Raed Al-Maliki, who brought the amendment forward and earlier this year successfully backed an anti-LGBTQ bill in parliament, denied that the new revisions allow the marriage of minors.

“Objections to the law come from a malicious agenda that seeks to deny a significant portion of the Iraqi population” the right to have “their personal status determined by their beliefs,” he said in a television interview.

But Amnesty’s Salihy said that enshrining religious freedom in law with “vague and undefined language” could “strip women and girls of rights and safety.”


International summit on 2-state solution ‘deepens the illusion’ of peace, says Israeli envoy to UN

International summit on 2-state solution ‘deepens the illusion’ of peace, says Israeli envoy to UN
Updated 54 min 17 sec ago
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International summit on 2-state solution ‘deepens the illusion’ of peace, says Israeli envoy to UN

International summit on 2-state solution ‘deepens the illusion’ of peace, says Israeli envoy to UN
  • Participants are engaging in discussions ‘disconnected from reality’ instead of ‘demanding the release of the hostages and working to dismantle Hamas’ reign of terror,’ he says
  • Israel and the US boycott the 2-day conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, which began on Monday at the UN’s HQ in New York

NEW YORK/LONDON: Ahead of an international conference on a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, told reporters on Monday that the summit “does not promote a solution, but rather deepens the illusion.”

Formally titled the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, the two-day event began on Monday at the UN headquarters in New York, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. With humanitarian experts warning that Gaza is on the brink of famine, the summit has been described as urgent and long overdue.

But Danon said: “Instead of demanding the release of the hostages and working to dismantle Hamas’ reign of terror, the conference organizers are engaging in discussions and plenaries that are disconnected from reality.”

Jonathan Harounoff, the international spokesperson for Israel’s mission at the UN, confirmed that his country would not participate in any conference that “doesn’t first urgently address the issue of condemning Hamas and returning all of the remaining hostages.” The US also boycotted the event.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for whom the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant in November in connection with its investigation into war crimes during Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, said the international conference “rewards terrorism” and accused France of helping to legitimize what could become “an Iranian proxy state.”

The UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, on Sunday warned that the situation in Gaza was dire, with widespread hunger, children wasting away and people risking their lives in their attempts simply to obtain food.

While recent moves by Israeli authorities to ease restrictions and allow more aid into the territory represented a step forward, he said, it was not enough. Vast quantities of aid, safe access routes, consistent supplies of fuel, efforts to protect civilians, and an immediate ceasefire are urgently needed to prevent further catastrophe, he added.


US dismisses UN Israel-Palestinian conference as ‘publicity stunt’

US dismisses UN Israel-Palestinian conference as ‘publicity stunt’
Updated 28 July 2025
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US dismisses UN Israel-Palestinian conference as ‘publicity stunt’

US dismisses UN Israel-Palestinian conference as ‘publicity stunt’
  • US State Department labeled three-day event “unproductive and ill-timed”

NEW YORK: The US on Monday dismissed a French-Saudi-sponsored conference at the United Nations on promoting a two-state solution to the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis as a “stunt.”

The US State Department labeled the three-day event “unproductive and ill-timed,” as well as a “publicity stunt” that would make finding peace harder.

The diplomatic push is a “reward for terrorism,” the statement said, also calling the promise to recognize a Palestinian state by French President Emmanuel Macron “counterproductive.”

In the statement from spokesperson Tammy Bruce, the State Department added that the conference “far from promoting peace,” would “prolong the war, embolden Hamas, and reward its obstruction and undermine real-world efforts to achieve peace.”

Bruce continued: “As Secretary Rubio has made clear, this effort is a slap in the face to the victims of October 7th and a reward for terrorism. It keeps hostages trapped in tunnels.  

“The United States will not participate in this insult but will continue to lead real-world efforts to end the fighting and deliver a permanent peace. Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not stage-managed conferences designed to manufacture the appearance of relevance.”

The statement said President Macron’s announcement about recognizing a Palestinian state was “welcomed by Hamas,” while encouraging its “obstruction of a ceasefire,” and greatly undercut US diplomatic efforts to “end the suffering in Gaza, free the hostages, and move the whole Middle East towards a brighter and more prosperous future.”

* With AFP


UN outlines humanitarian response plan during potential Gaza ceasefire, and conditions required

UN outlines humanitarian response plan during potential Gaza ceasefire, and conditions required
Updated 28 July 2025
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UN outlines humanitarian response plan during potential Gaza ceasefire, and conditions required

UN outlines humanitarian response plan during potential Gaza ceasefire, and conditions required
  • It emphasizes urgent need to address life-saving needs across the territory, where experts say the population continues to face the looming threat of famine
  • It identifies 11 major barriers to effective delivery of aid that must be addressed, including threats to aid workers, logistical delays, red tape and damage to roads

NEW YORK CITY: The UN has outlined a comprehensive plan to scale up humanitarian aid for Gaza should a ceasefire or pause in hostilities be agreed. However, it warned that the current conditions on the ground pose major obstacles that must be addressed to make such a response feasible.

The plan, designed for an initial 30-day period but extendable depending on conditions, emphasizes the urgent need to address life-saving needs across the territory, in which the population continues to suffer the effects of what aid organizations describe as a looming famine.

The document identifies 11 major barriers to the effective delivery of aid, ranging from threats to aid workers and logistical delays to bureaucratic restrictions and damage to roads.

Among the most urgent concerns is the threat to the safety of humanitarian staff and facilities. Escalating hostilities near humanitarian routes and designated convoy areas have severely constrained movement and delivery capacities.

At the same time, the collapse of the civilian police force has contributed to widespread insecurity, particularly at border crossings and along aid routes, which are increasingly vulnerable to looting and interference by armed gangs.

Aid convoys face significant delays as they regularly have to await approval from the Israeli army, only to be denied access after hours of waiting. This wastes time that is critical to the aid response, and ties up resources that could be used elsewhere. In southern Gaza, a single round trip to deliver supplies can take up to 20 hours.

The poor state of telecommunications compounds these issues, with local networks frequently down, satellite phones jammed, and outdated radio systems hindering coordination.

Efforts to deliver aid are undermined by the large, desperate crowds of people that intercept trucks and seize supplies before they can reach distribution points. Many of the routes approved by Israeli authorities are deemed unsafe or impractical, as they pass through heavily congested or gang-controlled areas.

Additionally, the UN reports severe shortages of warehouse space and logistical equipment such as armored vehicles, protective gear and spare parts, items that are often denied entry by Israeli authorities.

The state of the transport network poses challenges, with nearly 70 percent of roads damaged, and overcrowding in southern governorates further impedes movement.

Supply lines remain unpredictable, with crossing points from Israel, Egypt, the West Bank and Jordan frequently closed or operating on inconsistent schedules. The absence of a centralized UN-run logistics hub at key crossings complicates the management of customs and cargo.

Fuel shipments are funneled almost exclusively through Kerem Shalom in Israel, leaving northern Gaza dependent on unreliable coordinated transfers, and the latest Israeli regulations require all humanitarian deliveries of fuel to be managed by a single private company.

Meanwhile, the closure of the border-crossing at Rafah has left international aid workers with limited options to rotate in and out of Gaza, and Israeli authorities are increasingly denying entry altogether.

The UN said these constraints must be resolved if a scaled-up humanitarian operation is to proceed, and proposed a series of actions to be taken before and during any ceasefire agreement. These include efforts to ensure the safety of aid workers and their facilities, the clarification of buffer zones to avoid any accidental targeting of humanitarians, and the reactivation of civilian police in some areas.

To address the threat of looting, humanitarian organizations might request security escorts in accordance with humanitarian principles. In addition, UN monitors need to be granted access to all border crossings and distribution points to ensure effective tracking and oversight.

The UN also called on Israeli authorities to expedite the deployment of essential equipment in Gaza, including satellite-communication devices, armored vehicles, power generators and prefabricated housing for staff. The resumption of telecommunications services across Gaza would be necessary for the coordination of operations, and approval for the use of tools to clear unexploded ordnance is required to ensure the safety of aid convoys.

Civilians must be allowed to move freely throughout the territory without fear of harassment, detention or violence. Israeli army checkpoints, particularly on Salah Al-Din road, need to be removed or rendered nonobstructive, and any agreed troop-withdrawal zones must be clearly marked with visible barriers to protect civilians.

In addition, humanitarian operations would require all relevant border crossings to operate at full capacity, including at weekends. The UN requested that authorities in Egypt and Jordan be allowed to send trucks directly into Gaza to offload goods, and a reduction in interference by Israeli army personnel while determining the contents of aid convoys, to speed up deliveries.

Within Gaza, key roads such as the coastal route and Salah Al-Din must be repaired and remain open from dawn to dusk. Heavy machinery and materials need to be brought in to support the reconstruction of roads, and any unexploded ordnance along main routes must be cleared.

Efforts to revive the private sector in Gaza are also considered essential, as humanitarian aid alone cannot sustain the population. Of the 600 trucks a day needed to meet basic needs, the UN estimates that 350 should carry commercial goods, 150 would contain supplies from the UN and nongovernmental organizations, and 100 would be allocated to bilateral or Red Crescent donations.

The UN stressed that aid must be able to reach all areas of Gaza, based on population size, and that fuel deliveries to the north, which are frequently denied, must be approved consistently. A larger share of deliveries will be monitored by safeguarding and protection teams to ensure equitable and safe distribution, particularly to the most vulnerable populations.

Furthermore, restrictions on key humanitarian items must be lifted. These include assistive devices, vehicle parts, medical supplies, sanitation tools and solar energy systems for health facilities and water infrastructure.

To meet the needs of hospitals, water systems and other critical infrastructure, at least 265,000 liters of diesel and 13,000 liters of benzene would be required each day. Electricity feeder lines should be reactivated immediately, and repairs to Gaza’s power plant and grid infrastructure need to be supported. Deliveries of cooking gas must also be allowed to both the north and south of the territory.

Meanwhile, dozens of UN and NGO employees who are awaiting visas so that they can provide support for operations in Gaza from Jerusalem must be granted entry, along with international medical and humanitarian personnel.

If these conditions are met, the UN plans to implement a broad humanitarian response, starting with the scaling-up of food assistance across the territory. This would include daily shipments of food and fresh ingredients, support for bakeries and kitchens preparing hot meals, and

specialized food aid for children, pregnant women and the elderly. Humanitarian partners would also work to reestablish the commercial food trade to supplement UN deliveries.

Health services would be expanded, with six hospitals, two field hospitals, and eight primary health centers resupplied and reopened. At least 150 patients a week would be referred to facilities outside of Gaza for urgent treatment, and new emergency medical teams would be deployed. Mental health and trauma services would also be strengthened.

Water and sanitation services, which currently reach only 20 percent of the population, would be scaled up to serve at least 80 percent. The UN plan includes the delivery of hygiene kits, fuel, chlorine and equipment to improve WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) services in communities and at displacement centers.

Malnutrition, particularly among children under the age of 5 and pregnant or lactating women, has reached alarming levels. The UN said it intends to launch emergency nutrition protocols, including the establishment of stabilization centers and targeted food distribution. With predictable access and sufficient partner capacities, the UN estimates that 98 percent of the target population could be reached within a month.

Finally, shelter assistance would be expanded to cover 200,000 displaced individuals through the distribution of tents, sealing kits, winter items and household essentials, prioritizing those who are living in makeshift or self-settled camps.

UN officials stressed that while their plan is technically feasible, success will depend entirely on the creation of a secure, cooperative and enabling environment. Without that, they warned, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is likely to deteriorate further, putting millions of lives at risk.


Two-state solution ‘key to regional stability,’ Saudi FM tells UN conference

Two-state solution ‘key to regional stability,’ Saudi FM tells UN conference
Updated 50 min 48 sec ago
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Two-state solution ‘key to regional stability,’ Saudi FM tells UN conference

Two-state solution ‘key to regional stability,’ Saudi FM tells UN conference
  • Prince Faisal said regional peace must begin with securing legitimate rights of Palestinian people
  • Affirmed no relations would be established with Israel before creation of Palestinian state
  • Added US President Trump could play major role in regional conflict resolution

NEW YORK: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Monday the implementation of a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine crisis was “the key to regional stability.”

He was speaking at the opening of a high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, which opened at the UN on Monday.

“The Kingdom believes that the two-state solution is the key to regional stability,” he said. “The New York conference is a pivotal milestone toward implementing the two-state solution,” he added.

Prince Faisal reiterated that peace in the region must begin with securing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron’s intention to formally recognize a state of Palestine in September.

“Achieving security, stability, and prosperity for all the peoples of the region begins with justice for the Palestinian people and enabling them to obtain their legitimate rights, foremost among them the establishment of their independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

He described the Arab Peace Initiative as the framework for any just and comprehensive solution.

He also called for an immediate end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and confirmed that Saudi Arabia and France had facilitated the transfer of $300 million from the World Bank to Palestine.

Prince Faisal said the Kingdom was engaging with several countries to secure recognition of a Palestinian state.

He further rejected the idea of linking such recognition to an Israeli veto and affirmed that no relations would be established with Israel before a Palestinian state was created.

The minister voiced support for the Palestinian Authority’s reform efforts and noted that US President Donald Trump could play a key role in regional conflict resolution.

Prince Faisal added that several memoranda of understanding would be signed on Tuesday with Palestinian sectors to empower them.

He concluded by highlighting the importance of sustaining diplomatic momentum and international coordination to achieve a viable, peaceful two-state solution.

Conference co-chair, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, echoed those sentiments, telling reporters that more countries could follow suit in recognizing Palestine in the coming months.

“France affirms the Palestinian people’s right to sovereignty over their lands,” he said.

He added: “Other countries may recognize the State of Palestine in September. The two-state solution conference is a decisive step toward implementing the solution; historic commitments will be made. The targeting of civilians in Gaza is unacceptable; the war in the Strip has lasted too long and must stop.”

He went on to highlight the international community’s role in translating the two-state framework into action.

“We must work to make the two-state solution a tangible reality,” he said. “(It) meets the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians. We have launched an unstoppable momentum toward a political solution in the Middle East.”

Also speaking during the first session on Monday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa welcomed the conference, calling it a crucial opportunity for peace.

“The two-state solution is a historic opportunity for everyone,” he said. “We are grateful to Saudi Arabia and France for leading this historic conference.”

He added that the conference sent a clear message of international support to the Palestinian people.

“The two-state solution conference confirms to the Palestinian people that the world stands with them.”

Mustafa also called for political unity between the West Bank and Gaza, urging Hamas to disarm in favour of Palestinian Authority control.

“We must work to unify the West Bank and Gaza Strip. We call on Hamas to surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” he said.

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Major Israeli rights groups brand Gaza campaign ‘genocide’

Major Israeli rights groups brand Gaza campaign ‘genocide’
Updated 28 July 2025
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Major Israeli rights groups brand Gaza campaign ‘genocide’

Major Israeli rights groups brand Gaza campaign ‘genocide’
  • B’Tselem is one of Israel’s best-known rights groups
  • It said Israel is ‘intentionally’ destroying Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip

JERUSALEM: Rights groups B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel said on Monday that they had concluded the war in Gaza amounts to “genocide” against Palestinians, a first for Israeli NGOs.

Both organizations are frequent critics of Israeli government policies, but the language in their reports issued on Monday was their most stark yet.

“Nothing prepares you for the realization that you are part of a society committing genocide. This is a deeply painful moment for us,” B’Tselem executive director Yuli Novak told a news conference unveiling the two reports.

“As Israelis and Palestinians who live here and witness the reality every day, we have a duty to speak the truth as clearly as possible,” she said.

“Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians.”

HIGHLIGHT

The Israeli assault has left much of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million Palestinians, in ruins, and according to the Hamas-run territory’s Health Ministry has killed at least 59,921 people.

Israel’s war in Gaza for the past 21 months began in response to an unprecedented attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas on October 7, 2023.

The Israeli assault has left much of the Gaza Strip, home to more than two million Palestinians, in ruins, and according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry has killed at least 59,821 people, most of them civilians.

All Gazans have been driven from their homes at least once since the start of the war, and UN agencies warn that residents face a growing threat of famine and malnutrition.

The International Court of Justice, in an interim ruling in early 2024 in a case lodged by South Africa, found it “plausible” that the Israeli offensive had violated the UN Genocide Convention.

The Israeli government, backed by the United States, fiercely denies the charge and says it is fighting to defeat Hamas and to bring back Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

The reports from B’Tselem — one of Israel’s best-known rights groups — and Physicians for Human Rights Israel argue that the war’s objectives go further.

B’Tselem’s report cites statements from senior politicians to illustrate that Israel “is taking coordinated action to intentionally destroy Palestinian society in the Gaza Strip.”

Physicians for Human Rights Israel’s report documents what the group says is “the deliberate and systematic destruction of Gaza’s health care system.”