Hardliners In Iran Promote Polygamy, Obedience Of Wives

Typical of regime propaganda, the newspaper, Javan, shared the notion that principles of polygamy and obedience of women are rooted in the fundamental framework of Islamic sexual theory. Among Iran's young population, especially in urban areas, polygamy is seen as a thing of the past, much like its rejection of the mandatory hijab as was seen in the Women, Life, Freedom movement uprising since last year.

The article even argued that if Islamic principles are correctly implemented in society, it could alleviate the current challenges faced by Iranian society in matters related to sexual issues, referring to Iran's declining marriage and birth rates, a challenge the regime has long been trying to overcome as young women delay marriage in favour of education and careers.

Women in Iran have long confronted legal, political, economic, and social challenges. Marriage laws are particularly discriminatory, allowing men to have up to four wives simultaneously, while women can only marry one husband. Women also require male guardian consent for marriage, and there are restrictions on interfaith marriages.

Additionally, the legal age of marriage has decreased over the years. Marriage contracts often include clauses mandating a woman's obedience to receive financial support for housing, clothing, food, and furniture.

In addition, women face discrimination in divorce proceedings, as they can only obtain a divorce through a court, whereas men can unilaterally declare divorce without their spouse's presence.

Travel restrictions for women also exist, as they typically require their husband's permission to obtain a passport or travel abroad. Unmarried women aged 18 and above are allowed to apply for a passport without requiring prior permission, yet they still need permission by their male guardians -- father or husband -- to travel abroad.