On 13 February, the President ratified amendments to the Personal Status Law (PSL). The amendments, passed by parliament on 21 January, allow Shiite Iraqis to decide whether their marriage and family matters are governed by the secular PSL or religious law. Other religious sects will remain under secular law only. As a result, the amendments create a system where family law protections may vary by sect affiliation and personal choice. The new PSL provisions require Shia religious law to set the minimum age of marriage at 18 but to also permit marriage at 15 in certain circumstances. In divorce proceedings where there is disagreement as to whether secular or religious law is to be applied, the amendments state that the husband’s preference prevails. The Shiite Endowment Office, the relevant religious authority, now has four months to draft the accompanying religious law, which must then be approved by parliament.

Sources: Official Gazette of Iraq, Parliament of Iraq, Iraqi News Agency, The National, International IDEA

On 31 October, Iraq's Parliament elected Mahmoud al-Mashhadani as its new speaker, ending nearly a year of political deadlock. The position had been vacant since November 2023, when the Federal Supreme Court removed former speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi over forgery allegations. The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament plays a key role in facilitating the effective functioning of the legislative process, managing debates and ensuring the timely passage of laws. The election of Al-Mashhadani follows months of negotiations, marking a rare moment of consensus in Iraq's divided parliament, where Sunni factions had struggled to agree on a replacement for the position, which is reserved for a Sunni Muslim.

Sources: Associated Press, The New Arab, Al Arabiya, International IDEA

On 4 August, Iraq’s parliament debated significant amendments to the Personal Status Law (PSL). The proposed changes would introduce an option for citizens to choose between the current secular PSL and a sect-specific religious law upon marriage. The changes have been controversial, with critics arguing that they could undermine gender equality by empowering religious authorities over civil courts. Concerns include potential legalization of child marriages and reduced divorce rights for women, as religious rulings might prevail over secular legal standards. This is the third attempt since 2014 to reform family law. The bill is supported by the Shia Coordination Framework, an alliance of Shiite parties opposing the Sadrist movement, which seeks to appeal to conservative voters ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections. Observers caution that the bill may gain traction due to potential political maneuvering, as Sunni MPs might support it in exchange for backing on a controversial amendment to the amnesty law also undergoing parliamentary discussion.

Sources: Wilson Center, Shafaq, Brookings, The New Arab

On 27 April, Iraq’s unicameral legislature, the House of Representatives, passed a law that severely restricts the rights of LGBTQIA+ people in the country. In wording that has been criticised for being vague and overly broad, The Law on Combating Prostitution and Homosexuality criminalises homosexuality for the first time in Iraq, prescribing a 10-to-15-year prison sentence for a person who engages in homosexual sex. It bans the promotion of homosexuality, prohibiting the activities of NGOs advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights. It also targets transgender people, criminalising those who undergo gender change procedures based on ‘desire and inclination’, as well as those who conduct such procedures. While homosexuality was not previously outlawed in Iraq, the LGBTQIA+ community has been prosecuted under morality laws and is subject to frequent violence and discrimination. Under the constitution, the Law will be considered ratified 15 days after it has been sent to the president by the legislature.

Sources: Shafaq News, British Broadcasting Corporation, The Guardian, Library of Congress, Constitution of Iraq