Iraq's parliament ammended a law protecting girls against child marriage, now allowing brides as young as 9 years old.

Opponents to the amendments say they effectively legalize child marriage in Iraq and mark a significant step backward for women's rights in the country. The passage of the amendments also sets a precedent for other governments seeking to pass similar bills to adhere to their interpretation of Islamic law.

Roughly three months after Iraqi lawmakers proposed a bill to slash the country’s legal age of consent from 18 to nine years old, Iraq’s parliament passed an amendment to the country’s personal status law that effectively legalises child marriage,