Despite the emphasis by Iranian government officials and the judiciary on the illegality of 'baby selling', various reports in Iranian media continue to emerge about the ongoing buying and selling of children. Meanwhile, Tayebe Siawoshi Shaheniati, a representative from Tehran in the Parliament, stated on Wednesday, July 4, that the sale of children in the outskirts of Tehran has become a 'normal practice'. Some reports on this issue, including statements from Fatemeh Daneshvar, a city council member, have received widespread attention in the past, but according to reports, this phenomenon continues. Fatemeh Daneshvar, the head of the Social Committee of the Fourth City Council of Tehran, stated on November 16, 2015, that some 'drug-addicted and sex worker' women sell their newborns after childbirth for prices ranging from '100,000 to 200,000 tomans'. She added that these infants are purchased by various gangs, including beggars. Meanwhile, Ahmad Delbari, the director general of social welfare in Tehran province, reported on June 20, 2016, that 220 children at risk of being sold had been identified and transferred to social welfare centers in Tehran. The Legal Department of the Iranian Judiciary has declared the buying and selling of children, 'even under the guise of adoption', as a 'criminal act', but some members of Parliament have stated that the punishments in this regard are 'not deterrent'. At the same time, Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtar, Mohammad Kazemi, and Yahya Kamali-Pour, three members of Parliament, warned on Saturday, May 19, about the 'expansion of the phenomenon of child trafficking in Iran' and called for increased judicial penalties in this area. Previously, Shahindokht Molaverdi, the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, stated that the statistics of newborns sold while still in the womb are 'high' and that 'poverty' is considered one of the most important factors contributing to this social phenomenon in Iran. She named 'economic poverty', 'cultural poverty', 'addiction', 'homelessness', and 'child marriage' as the main factors of 'baby selling' in Iran.
Baby Selling in Tehran
Reports indicate that baby selling has become a normalized practice in the outskirts of Tehran, despite government claims of its illegality. Officials, including members of Parliament and the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs, have highlighted poverty and social issues as key drivers of this phenomenon. This situation raises serious concerns about child welfare and social justice in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Reports indicate that baby selling has become a normalized practice in the outskirts of Tehran, despite government claims of its illegality. Officials have acknowledged the issue and identified poverty and other social factors as key drivers.
- Children are reportedly sold for prices ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 tomans.
- The Iranian Judiciary has declared child selling a criminal act, yet enforcement and penalties are seen as inadequate.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Child selling in Iran is linked to poverty, addiction, and social instability, raising alarms about child welfare and human rights.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%