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Iran's Parliament Approves New Child Custody Law

Feb 13, 2026 February 13, 2026 1 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Iran's Parliament has passed a law that would grant divorced women equal custody rights over their children, pending approval from the conservative Guardian Council. This change is significant as it challenges existing Islamic laws that favor fathers in custody disputes.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The approval of this law marks a potential turning point for women's rights in Iran, pending further validation by the conservative Guardian Council.

👥 Key Players

Iranian Parliament MENTIONED
Legislative body
"They are responsible for proposing and passing laws that govern the country, reflecting the political dynamics within Iran."
Guardian Council MENTIONED
Oversight body
"This conservative body has the power to approve or reject laws passed by Parliament, often based on their interpretation of Islamic law."
Divorced Women in Iran MENTIONED
Affected demographic
"They represent a significant group whose rights and social status are impacted by custody laws, reflecting broader gender equality issues in Iran."

📰 What Happened

Iran's Parliament has approved a new law that grants divorced women equal custody rights over their children, allowing them to retain custody until the age of seven. This law aims to reform existing custody arrangements that favor fathers.

  • The new law allows mothers to have custody of children until age seven, after which custody decisions will be made by the court.
  • Current laws grant custody of daughters to mothers until age seven and sons until age two.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This law represents a significant step towards gender equality in custody rights, challenging traditional norms and potentially empowering women.
🌍 Regional: It may influence neighboring countries with similar cultural contexts to reconsider their own family laws regarding women's rights.
🌐 International: The law could affect Iran's international image, particularly concerning human rights and gender equality, which are often scrutinized by Western nations.

📚 Background

Custody laws in Iran have historically favored fathers, reflecting broader gender inequalities in the legal system. This proposed change is part of a larger movement advocating for women's rights in the country.

Women's rights in Iran Islamic family law
📡 Source: NEUTRAL
📊 Confidence: 70%
The information provided appears factual and is sourced from legislative updates, but interpretations may vary based on political perspectives.

The reformist Iranian Parliament has approved a new law granting divorced women equal custody rights over their daughters and sons. If enacted, women will automatically have custody of their children until the age of seven after separation from their spouses. After that, it will be up to the court to decide on custody rights for either parent. Under existing laws based on Islamic regulations, custody of daughters is with the mother until the age of seven and of sons until the age of two. The new law must be approved by the Guardian Council, an institution controlled by conservatives that has previously rejected many parliamentary bills on the grounds of inconsistency with Islamic laws.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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