By bne Gulf bureau A draft law in Iraq that would allow girls as young as nine to marry has sparked protests across the country, Al Mada newspaper reported on August 19. The proposed legislation, which passed its first reading in the Iraqi parliament last week, would grant religious authorities the power to decide on family matters, including marriage, divorce, and child custody. Meanwhile, critics argue the law effectively legalises paedophilia and marks a significant setback for women’s rights in the country. Since 2021, Iraq’s political system has been dominated by the Coordination Framewor…