The 2025 Amendment to Iraq’s Personal Status Law:

Legal and Social Implications

Ahmed Abdulhussin Kadhim Al-Yasiri

Hasan Daeif Hammood Al-Mamoor

 

Abstract: This note critically examines the 2025 amendment to Iraq’s Personal Status Law No. 188 of 1959, enacted as Law No. 1 of 2025. The amendment, which permits the application of Ja’fari Shi’i jurisprudence in matters of personal status, represents a significant shift from the previously uniform legal regime. While it responds to longstanding critiques regarding the original law’s incompatibility with Islamic jurisprudence, the new amendment introduces its own legal ambiguities and constitutional challenges. The note analyses these issues, particularly the exclusion of Sunni Muslims from the amendment’s scope, procedural inconsistencies in its application, and the legislative deficiencies that hinder effective implementation. Drawing on doctrinal analysis and constitutional principles, the article offers specific recommendations for ensuring both equity and compliance with Islamic and Iraqi constitutional frameworks in future legislative reforms.