Presidency Files Complaint Following Former MP's Claim About 'Divorced Women'

The Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs announced that legal actions are underway against claims made by a former MP regarding the provision of information about 'divorced Iranian women aged 20 to 25' to the UN for work in Antalya, Turkey. On Friday, June 2, Shahindokht Molaverdi stated that this complaint is being pursued through the Legal Vice Presidency. She expressed hope for a 'fair ruling' in this case, emphasizing that 'lies must be proven.' Fatemeh Alia, a former MP and member of Ebrahim Raisi's campaign team, recently claimed in a video that the Women and Family Affairs Vice Presidency had provided the UN Population Fund with information about 'women, particularly divorced women aged 20 to 25.' Alia also alleged that the UN Population Fund is seeking to employ these women in the tourist region of 'Antalya' under the pretext of entrepreneurship. She further claimed that this matter is being investigated by the Parliament's Article 90 Commission. In 2014, several representatives had criticized a memorandum of understanding between the Women and Family Affairs Vice Presidency and the UN Population Fund. Molaverdi described Alia's statements as 'pure fabrication and distortion.' After the video circulated online, she threatened on her Facebook page that the Women’s Affairs Vice Presidency would not rest until 'documentary evidence and court-worthy reasons' were provided to prove this baseless claim. Molaverdi added that if those sharing this conversation claim to have been aware of the Vice Presidency's actions at that time, they should be commended for not speaking out until now. In her conversation with ILNA on Friday, she stated that 'raising this claim, especially during the election period, had no other purpose than political and propaganda exploitation.' The Vice Presidency for Women and Family Affairs also noted that they have had cases with the judiciary that have progressed well, and she hopes for good cooperation from the judiciary this time as well.