Iraq’s newly amended Personal Status Law, enacted in February 2025, threatens women’s and girls’ rights despite revisions prompted by civil society advocacy. This amendment allows couples ending a marriage to choose between the existing Personal Status Law of 1959 law or the stricter, sect-specific Personal Status Code. Once couples make their decision, they cannot move their process to the other legal procedure, further creating unequal legal standards and enabling controversial practices such as unregistered and temporary (pleasure) marriages. While the law retains some safeguards like an established age for legal marriage, requirements for multiple marriages, and considerations of the best interest of the child(ren) in custody proceedings. Nonetheless, the law sidelines democratic oversight and increases control given to religious groups which critics warn endanger gender equality and children’s rights.