Iraqi lawmakers retract decision to require 'Islamicization' of Christian children if parent converts

November 18, 2015

The Iraqi parliament has amended legislation that would have required Christian children to be considered Muslims if one of their parents converted to Islam, the AsiaNews service reports.

Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako welcomed the parliamentary vote as “a clear demonstration of democracy.” The Chaldean prelate had rallied strong public opposition to the measure. The November 17 vote in the Iraqi parliament reversed an earlier result, in which the lawmakers had rejected a proposal to allow children to decide their own religious affiliation upon reaching the age of 18.

 

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Further information:

• Patriarch of Baghdad welcomes amendments to Law on Islamization of children (AsiaNews)
• Iraqi legislation requires children to become Muslims if either parent converts to Islam (CWN, 11/11)