20 Percent of Marriages in Iran are Temporary

Shirin Ahmadnia, the director of the "Office for the Prevention of Social Harms" at the Welfare Organization, has announced that 20 percent of marriages in Iran are "temporary," and the country is witnessing a new phenomenon called "rental marriage." According to a report on Tuesday, December 30, by ISNA news agency, Ahmadnia made these statements during a "social discourse" session in Ardabil province, attributing it to "changes in the structure and functions of families" in Iran. She added that currently, for every 10 permanent marriages, two temporary marriages are registered in the country, and "cultural and religious conditions in Iran have facilitated this opportunity." Temporary marriage in Iran, as reported by judicial authorities, civil registration, and welfare organizations, has seen significant growth in recent years. The launch of "matchmaking" websites, the ease of establishing social relationships on virtual networks, and the increasing difficulty of permanent marriage conditions are cited as three factors contributing to the "expansion of temporary marriage in Iran." Alongside the rise of this type of marriage, Iranian media have reported the emergence of two other social phenomena known as "white marriage" and "rental marriage." "White marriage" involves both parties living together in a house without formal marriage registration and is based on mutual agreement, which has raised concerns among Islamic Republic officials regarding its spread. The desire of young people for independent living away from family and the possibility of obtaining "bachelor apartments" in major Iranian cities are cited as significant factors in the formation of this phenomenon in Iran. Ahmadnia also mentioned the newly emerging phenomenon of "rental marriage," stating that "such a thing did not exist before." She added that in this type of relationship, a group of men rent a house for their second wives. This official did not refer to statistics regarding changes in family or single living patterns in Iran.