Criticism from Etemad Newspaper on a Regulation Approved by Khamenei: Exemption for Soldiers with 4 Children is 'Extremism'

A newspaper in Iran has criticized a recent announcement from the 'Military Service Organization' for granting special privileges to soldiers with children, deeming it an example of 'extremism.' The Tehran-based newspaper 'Etemad' stated in its issue on Sunday, July 4, that one of the most astonishing examples of 'extremism' was the announcement that 'was published in the media last week quoting the Military Service Organization.' On Saturday, Iranian news agencies reported an announcement from the Human Resources Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, which stated that 'with the approval of the Supreme Leader and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, all conscripts, both absent and present, and active duty personnel who have four or more children' will be exempt from mandatory military service. The Etemad newspaper, which operates under the supervision of Ali Khamenei's representative and is funded by public revenues, noted that the 'normal age' for military service in Iran is considered to be '19 years.' It questioned, 'At what age must an Iranian male marry to have four children by the age of 19?' The newspaper continued its critical commentary, stating that one would naturally have to marry at '11 or 12 years old' to qualify for such an exemption at 19, asking, 'With what logic, ethics, rights, or fundamentally the way of life of a 21st-century citizen does this align?' According to the regulation from the General Staff of the Armed Forces, in addition to a two-month reduction in service for married personnel, reductions are granted for the first child (three months), second child (four months), and third child (five months). In recent years, following statements by Ali Khamenei about the 'necessity of childbearing and population growth,' this policy has been prioritized by various Iranian government institutions. In this context, Kamal Heydari, Deputy Health Minister of Ebrahim Raisi's government, announced in March 2022 the establishment of a new entity called the 'Operational Headquarters for Supporting Family Health and Youth Population' to implement the Supreme Leader's directives regarding 'population growth.'