Iraq is poised to pass a new law that would lower the legal age of consent from 18 to nine, allowing men to marry young girls, according to a new report. The Shia conservative groups that dominate Iraq’s parliament have proposed an amendment to the country’s “personal status law” that could see a Taliban-style rollback of all women’s rights.

Iraq's controversial new marriage law amendment allows girls as young as 9 to be married, sparking outrage among women's rights activists. The government claims it's in line with Islamic Sharia law, but critics argue it could lead to widespread child marriages,

In a move that has drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations and women’s groups, Iraq is on the brink..

Iraq is poised to slash the legal age of consent from 18 to to nine, allowing men to marry young children. The proposed legal change also deprives women of rights to divorce, child custody and inheritance.

Rights activists say the amendment would roll back women's rights and increase underage marriages in the country.