Child Labor and their Rights A Comparative Study between Islamic Law and Iraqi Law

The phenomenon of child labor is one of the most destructive negative phenomena on the future of children in Iraq and most third world countries, and its aspects and causes are very diverse, from poverty, ignorance, corruption and dropping out of school to the accumulation of the effects of war and destruction in Iraq. which has existed in the past years. These reasons push all family members, even children, to work, and this work can cause a lot of mental and emotional damage to children because their age is not suitable for bearing various pressures and they are not familiar with society. And this occupation causes a lot of damage to children and as a result the future of the country. Therefore, this research examines the phenomenon of child labor in Islam and in general in Iraq, its causes, motivations, programs that help its expansion, and its legal instruments. Islam considers children to be very important, and their employment should be appropriate to their physical and mental condition and should not harm them in the slightest. Islam encourages families to teach all moral qualities to their children and to create a calm and child-like mentality by providing suitable conditions, but sometimes there are situations where children are forced to work, in this The form of these conditions should be in accordance with the abilities and disabilities of the child and be suitable for his body and soul, and no harm should be done to him. In the country of Iraq, according to the conditions that exist in the country and as far as possible, it implements child labor according to its own standards, of course, it goes without saying because of the bad economic conditions of Iraq, political instability, war conditions, and the loss of the head of the family. In some families, poverty, etc., these criteria are facing limitations and they could not apply all the recommendations by observing Islamic standards and orders. There is also a deficiency in the employment of children in Iraq.