A Social Science Researcher: "More than a Quarter" of Iranian Teenagers Begin Sexual Relationships at Age 15

The Ham-Mihan newspaper reported, citing a social science researcher, that over 27% of Iranian teenagers begin sexual relationships at the age of 15, and sometimes even at younger ages. Among the reasons for this "hastiness" are mentioned as "closed conditions" and "mismanagement." According to the report on Saturday, March 5, Mohammad Ali Mohammadi, a social science researcher, attributed these statistics to a study titled "Investigating the Trends of Sexual Life in Iran from 1997 to 2018" and noted that the early maturation of teenagers in Iran, along with the presence of governing powers in the form of "supervisory and controlling institutions," has led to a confrontation between teenagers and the government. Officials of the Islamic Republic usually refrain from providing research statistics, especially in the fields of society and social harms. In his remarks at the conference "Reconsidering Family System Developments in Today's Iran," Mohammadi cited "closed conditions" in fulfilling sexual needs and "mismanagement" as factors contributing to the early establishment of sexual relationships among teenagers, resulting in increased unwanted pregnancies and "abortions." He stated that a significant portion of the statistics related to the fulfillment of sexual needs of teenagers in Iran falls under the classification of "sexual harms." He described the "criminalization of youth" and dragging them to court as detrimental to their future and leading young people into the realm of political activism. Mohammadi predicted that in the next decade, Iranian society would face the prevalence of issues such as "management and executive weaknesses," "increased avoidance of marriage," "increased illicit sexual relationships among singles and married individuals," "decreased childbirth," "development of businesses related to sexual relationships," and "expansion of the market for sexual products in pharmacies and herbal shops." This social science researcher criticized the lack of understanding and planning for the sexual desires of youth and adolescents, and instead, the consideration of plans to punish them. Some experts believe that education can manage teenagers' emotional relationships and needs through skill training. However, sexual education in Iran's educational system is considered a red line. Elaheh Rashtgoo, a member of the Tehran City Council, reported in 2016 that the "age of addiction and unconventional relationships" has decreased to 13 years. The judiciary's response to the report of a teacher's assault on female students: It was not rape, it was "sexual harassment." The accused of sexually harassing students at a school in Isfahan has been arrested. Tremors in Iran following allegations of sexual harassment against a prominent Quran reciter.