Legalising child rape in Iraq.

[catsmate]

The thread title is deliberately somewhat provocative but I'd appreciate it if this thread doesn't degenerate immediately into exchanges of insults by the usual suspects. A reasoned debate perhaps?

A new law recently approved by the Iraqi cabinet would permit the marriage of nine-year-old girls. The law now passes to the Iraqi parliament for review.

The legislation, based on Shiite Islamic jurisprudence, is referred to as the "Ja’afari Law", and describes girls as reaching puberty at age nine, thus making them fit for marriage. The legislation allows a husband’s right to insist on sexual intercourse with his wife whenever he wishes, and makes the father sole guardian of his children at age two.

The legislation was originally proposed by justice minister Hassan al-Shimari, a member of the Shiite Fadila party, and approved by the cabinet on February 25 and is basically the same law that was proposed during the US occupation, in 2003.
Links:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/08/us-iraq-women-islam-idUSBREA270NR20140308
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/...-would-allow-marriage-of-nine-year-old-girls/
http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/wom...st-against-draft-law-to-permit-child-marriage

 

[Navigator]

The thread title is deliberately somewhat provocative but I'd appreciate it if this thread doesn't degenerate immediately into exchanges of insults by the usual suspects. A reasoned debate perhaps?

A new law recently approved by the Iraqi cabinet would permit the marriage of nine-year-old girls. The law now passes to the Iraqi parliament for review.

The legislation, based on Shiite Islamic jurisprudence, is referred to as the "Ja’afari Law", and describes girls as reaching puberty at age nine, thus making them fit for marriage. The legislation allows a husband’s right to insist on sexual intercourse with his wife whenever he wishes, and makes the father sole guardian of his children at age two.

The legislation was originally proposed by justice minister Hassan al-Shimari, a member of the Shiite Fadila party, and approved by the cabinet on February 25 and is basically the same law that was proposed during the US occupation, in 2003.
Links:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/08/us-iraq-women-islam-idUSBREA270NR20140308
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/03/...-would-allow-marriage-of-nine-year-old-girls/
http://www.ncr-iran.org/en/news/wom...st-against-draft-law-to-permit-child-marriage

This accompanies your sig.

"As human right is always something given, it always in reality reduces to the right which men give, "concede," to each other. If the right to existence is conceded to new-born children, then they have the right; if it is not conceded to them, as was the case among the Spartans and ancient Romans, then they do not have it. For only society can give or concede it to them; they themselves cannot take it, or give it to themselves."

Does this explain the hilited part in the OP adequately?

 

[Craig B]

Why are you bring "deliberately provocative"? Why not just state your case that you think the proposed law sets too low an age of consent, with which I agree. It looks like archaic patriarchal exploitation of girls. So why be provocative?

 

[Rasmus]

Why are you bring "deliberately provocative"? Why not just state your case that you think the proposed law sets too low an age of consent, with which I agree. It looks like archaic patriarchal exploitation of girls. So why be provocative?

I fail to see where the consent comes in.

 

[Craig B]

I fail to see where the consent comes in.

Sorry? In most countries it is deemed impossible for a child of such a young age to give consent to sexual contact, or to marriage. Thus, such things are treated as non-consensual and forbidden by law. There can be no consent at such an age, which is my point, and that should apply in Iraq too. It is far too young.

 

[Ryokan]

I fail to see where the consent comes in.

He said their age of consent was too low to consent. Do you see where consent comes in now?

 

[lobosrul]

Why are you bring "deliberately provocative"? Why not just state your case that you think the proposed law sets too low an age of consent, with which I agree. It looks like archaic patriarchal exploitation of girls. So why be provocative?

If I understand this right, this law, plus others make it so:

1) A father has total control over his children, including the ability to force them into a marriage.
2) A girl as young as nine can be forced into marriage.
3) Her husband can legally force her to have sex.

How is that anything other than child rape??

 

[Professor Yaffle]

He said their age of consent was too low to consent. Do you see where consent comes in now?

I think he was amking a point about this:

The legislation allows a husband’s right to insist on sexual intercourse with his wife whenever he wishes

The "consent" part of "age of consent" would seem to be irrelevant in this legislation.

 

[Black Hole Box]

It's horrible and I condemn it. So... what now?

 

[Craig B]

If I understand this right, this law, plus others make it so:

1) A father has total control over his children, including the ability to force them into a marriage.
2) A girl as young as nine can be forced into marriage.
3) Her husband can legally force her to have sex.

How is that anything other than child rape??

Then it's not deliberately provocative to say so, but the OP said he was being deliberately provocative. Why?

 

[Checkmite]

He said their age of consent was too low to consent. Do you see where consent comes in now?

No, because the law doesn't address an "age of consent", it addresses an age at which men may marry girls and force them to have sex.

 

[fuelair]

Not much to say about it. And I suspect most here know my preference for handling the situation should I be at the right place/time to do so.

 

[marplots]

Why are you bring "deliberately provocative"? Why not just state your case that you think the proposed law sets too low an age of consent, with which I agree. It looks like archaic patriarchal exploitation of girls. So why be provocative?

I fail to see where the consent comes in.

Sorry? In most countries it is deemed impossible for a child of such a young age to give consent to sexual contact, or to marriage. Thus, such things are treated as non-consensual and forbidden by law. There can be no consent at such an age, which is my point, and that should apply in Iraq too. It is far too young.

Wouldn't the consent issue be handled like other consent matters with a minor? In other words, a responsible adult would act as the agent of consent. This parallels how I might force my child to get a vaccination, even though they are a minor and cannot give consent. I may very well do this against their will.

The issue should not be about consent, but about whether or not sex with someone so young is acceptable.

 

[NWO Sentryman]

At least in Iran, any sick **** who tries this **** gets the noose, while in the US, they'd die in a gurgling rush of blood in prison.

 

[angrysoba]

A new law recently approved by the Iraqi cabinet would permit the marriage of nine-year-old girls.

Freedom's messy!

 

[Cainkane1]

The free world allows these people to immigrate to their countries. Hopefully their adopted countries will take heed and protect the children when they come here or whereever.

Child marriage is bad. Very bad.

 

[Meed]

The free world allows these people to immigrate to their countries.

Shii'ites?

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Thread title seems to me to fit. Not sure why the OP red warning includes an apology for the title.

It will be a shame if the Iranian people are powerless to stop this law because more than a few citizens are normal and not these fundy extremist types.

 

[angrysoba]

Thread title seems to me to fit. Not sure why the OP red warning includes an apology for the title.

It will be a shame if the Iranian people are powerless to stop this law because more than a few citizens are normal and not these fundy extremist types.

This is in Iraq. Although I understand that there are some similar laws on the books in Iran, too.

 

[Cain]

I only read the thread title, so I'm guessing they want to encourage tourism...??