A bill in Iraq that would allow girls as young as nine to marry has sparked protests across the country, with women's rights activists saying it would "legalize child rape".
The Shiite religious groups that dominate the political system in Iraq have led to the suppression of women's rights for more than a decade.
Unlike Saudi Arabia, Iraq does not have a system that requires women to have a husband's permission to make key life decisions, such as marriage.
However, the new proposal, which passed first reading in Parliament, would give religious authorities the power to decide on family matters, including marriage, divorce and child custody.
"This is a disaster for women," said Raya Faiq, coordinator of the coalition of groups opposing the change in the law. This group includes several Iraqi MPs.
"My husband and family oppose child marriage. But imagine my daughter getting married and her husband marrying my niece as a child. The new law would allow him to do so. I would not be allowed to object. This law legalizes the rape of children".
During protests this week in Baghdad and other cities, supporters of the law confronted opponents and accused them of "pursuing Western agendas".
Although Iraq has outlawed marriage under the age of 18 since 1950, a statistic from the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, found that 28% of girls in Iraq were married before they turned 18.
A bloc of 25 female MPs in parliament have tried to stop the bill from going to second reading, but say they face strong opposition.
Protesters say they fear their children will face an even harsher future than theirs if the changes to the law come into effect.
"I have a daughter, I don't want her to be forced like me to marry as a child", said Azhar Jassim, who had to leave school to get married at the age of 16.
