The nine-year-old child forced into marriage in Iraq

Channel 4 News

22 Aug 201907:08

Summary

TLDRThe script narrates the story of Nadia, who at the age of nine was married off to a 28-year-old man in Iraq. Despite reforms, child marriage persists, exacerbated by the weakening of state institutions and the resurgence of tribal traditions post-conflict. Activists like Jimana Mumtaz campaign for stronger women's rights protection against this practice, which is also influenced by religious clerics' power. Nadia, now an advocate in England, shares her experience to raise awareness and fight against child marriage in Iraq.

Takeaways

🎉 The story of Nadia is shared to highlight the issue of child marriage in Iraq, where she was married off at the age of 9 to a 28-year-old man.
👰 Nadia's family, like many others, believed she was old enough to be married at a very young age, which is still a prevalent practice in some parts of Iraq.
🌏 Despite the presence of progressive laws and reconstruction efforts post-Gulf War, child marriage persists in Iraq, affecting both Sunni and Shia communities.
🛍️ Baghdad, with its modern shopping centers and marketing of Western products, shows a stark contrast between urban development and traditional practices like child marriage.
📉 Activist EDA points out that decades of conflict have weakened state institutions, allowing tribal traditions, including child marriage, to resurface.
👮‍♀️ Community police officers are involved in efforts to educate and challenge the practice of child marriage, delivering lessons in schools.
💬 There is a noted influence of religious clerics on the practice of child marriage, with some communities looking to them for guidance on such matters.
📜 Activists like Jimana Mumtaz are campaigning for stronger protection of women's rights, including raising awareness and pushing against the normalization of child marriage.
📉 There was an attempt by the government to lower the legal marriage age, which was defeated but could potentially be reintroduced, indicating ongoing challenges in women's rights.
🌟 Nadia's personal story is a testament to the struggles faced by child brides, having had two children by the age of 13 and eventually escaping to settle in England.
🗣️ Nadia speaks out against child marriage, horrified that it continues and is a vocal advocate for change and awareness.

Q & A

What significant event took place shortly before Nadia's wedding?
-Nadia's wedding was held just after the first Gulf War.
Why did Nadia's family decide to marry her off at the age of nine?
-Nadia's family believed she was old enough to be married to a 28-year-old man at the age of nine.
Why did Nadia request to have her identity disguised in the story?
-Nadia shared her story but asked for her identity to be disguised due to the sensitive nature of the content.
What is the current state of women's rights in Baghdad, despite progressive laws?
-Despite having some of the most progressive laws in the Arab world, the number of child marriages has risen since the coalition invasion, indicating a regression in women's rights.
What role do tribal traditions play in the resurgence of child marriages in Iraq?
-Tribal traditions are resurfacing due to the weakening of state institutions after decades of conflict, contributing to the practice of child marriages.
What unusual lesson did the community police officers deliver at the school?
-The community police officers delivered a lesson on ecology, which was unusual and challenged by the girls who questioned the effectiveness of having laws against child marriage.
What is the religious position on marrying minors according to Sheikh Mustafa?
-The script does not provide a clear answer from Sheikh Mustafa on the religious position regarding marrying minors, but it suggests that religious clerics' power is often blamed for the practice.
What was the government's attempt to change the legal marriage age, and what was the outcome?
-The government tried to introduce a bill that would have lowered the legal marriage age from eighteen to nine, but it was defeated.
Who is Jimana Mumtaz, and what is her campaign about?
-Jimana Mumtaz is an activist who has launched a campaign calling for greater protection for women's rights in response to the erosion of these rights.
How did Nadia's life change after she escaped her marriage?
-Nadia managed to escape her marriage and is now settled in England, where she is speaking out against the practice of child marriage in Iraq.
What was the reaction of the girls at the school when confronted with the issue of child marriage?
-The girls challenged the officer on why having a law against child marriage isn't enough, indicating their awareness and desire for more effective measures.

Outlines

00:00

👰 Child Marriage in Iraq: A Persistent Issue

The first paragraph discusses the ongoing issue of child marriage in Iraq, highlighting the story of Nadia, who was married at the age of nine to a 28-year-old man. Despite being 30 years after the first Gulf War and having some of the most progressive laws in the Arab world, the practice continues. The narrative touches on the societal and legal challenges, including the weakening of state institutions due to decades of conflict, which has led to a resurgence of tribal traditions. It also mentions the role of religious clerics and the controversy surrounding the legal marriage age, with an attempt to lower it from eighteen to nine being defeated recently.

05:03

🌟 Activism Against Child Marriage and Women's Rights

The second paragraph focuses on the efforts of activists like Jimana Mumtaz, who are campaigning for the protection of women's rights in the face of child marriage. It recounts the personal story of Nadia, who had two children by the age of 13 and eventually escaped her marriage to settle in England. Now, she is an advocate against the practice, expressing her horror that it persists. The paragraph also touches on the broader implications of the issue, suggesting that women's rights are being eroded, and there is a need for greater societal and legal support to combat this deeply rooted problem.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Child Marriage

Child marriage refers to the practice where children, typically girls, are married off before they reach the age of 18. In the video's context, it is highlighted as a significant issue in Iraq, where girls like Nadia are married off at a very young age, often to much older men. The script mentions Nadia's family deciding she was old enough to marry at the age of nine, which starkly illustrates the severity of the issue.

💡Reform and Reconstruction

Reform and reconstruction are processes aimed at improving and rebuilding societal structures, often after a period of conflict or instability. The script mentions that despite promises of such changes after the Gulf War, the practice of child marriage persists, indicating a failure to address this social issue effectively.

💡Tribal Traditions

Tribal traditions are cultural practices and customs that are specific to a particular tribal community. The video suggests that the resurgence of child marriage in Iraq is linked to the weakening of state institutions and the resurfacing of tribal customs, as noted by the activist who discusses the impact of decades of conflict.

💡Religious Clerics

Religious clerics are leaders in religious communities who often have significant influence over their followers' beliefs and practices. The script implies that the power of religious clerics may contribute to the continuation of child marriage, as they are seen as authorities on religious matters, including marriage.

💡Activist

An activist is an individual who advocates for social or political change, often working towards the betterment of human rights. In the video, activists like Jimana Mumtaz are fighting for the protection of women's rights and against the practice of child marriage, highlighting the role of advocacy in social change.

💡Legal Marriage Age

The legal marriage age is the minimum age at which individuals are permitted to marry under the law. The script refers to an attempt by the government to lower the legal marriage age from 18 to 9, which was defeated, indicating ongoing political debates about the appropriate age for marriage.

💡Community Policing

Community policing is a strategy that involves police working closely with community members to address and prevent crime. In the video, community police officers are delivering lessons at a school, which suggests an attempt to engage with and educate young people about the law and their rights.

💡Women's Rights

Women's rights refer to the rights and entitlements of women to enjoy the same opportunities, treatment, and recognition as men in personal and public life. The video discusses the erosion of women's rights in Iraq, particularly in relation to child marriage, and the efforts of activists to protect and promote these rights.

💡Escape

To escape refers to the act of fleeing or getting away from a situation, often one that is dangerous or oppressive. Nadia's story in the video is one of escape from her marriage, which she managed to do many years later, highlighting the personal struggle and courage required to break free from such circumstances.

💡Erosion

Erosion in this context refers to the gradual decline or wearing away of something, such as rights or protections. The script mentions the steady erosion of women's rights, suggesting a continuous and concerning trend that activists are working to counteract.

💡Sunni and Shia

Sunni and Shia are the two main branches of Islam, with distinct beliefs and practices. The script notes that child marriage is happening in both Sunni and Shia communities in Iraq, indicating that the issue is not confined to a single religious group but is a broader societal problem.

Highlights

Nadia's family decided she was old enough to be married at the age of 9 to a 28-year-old man.

Nadia agreed to share her story but requested her identity to be disguised.

The practice of child marriage is still happening in parts of Baghdad despite reforms.

Western products are marketed in glitzy shopping centers, but societal issues like child marriage persist.

Child marriages have increased since the coalition invasion, affecting both Sunni and Shia communities.

Community police officers are delivering lessons on ecology, indicating a broader social issue.

Religious clerics' power is blamed for perpetuating the practice of child marriage.

Sheikh Mustafa was asked to clarify the religious position on marrying minors.

Activists like Jimana Mumtaz are campaigning for greater protection of women's rights.

The government attempted to lower the legal marriage age from 18 to 9, but the bill was defeated.

Nadia had two children by the time she was 13 and later managed to escape her marriage.

Nadia now lives in England and is horrified that child marriage is still happening in Iraq.

There is a call for the government to reintroduce the bill for greater protection of women's rights.

State institutions have been weakened by decades of conflict, leading to a resurgence of tribal traditions.

The transcript suggests a power struggle between state laws and religious influence on societal norms.

Women's rights are seen as being eroded, with the potential for the marriage age bill to be reintroduced.

The story of Nadia serves as a call to action against the ongoing issue of child marriage in Iraq.