Iran’s top cybercrime official said that many websites and online platforms advertising sigheh or temporary religious marriage are designed to defraud users, even after an investigation by Iran International last week demonstrated it was a genuine industry.
“Many users fall for false promises and suffer serious financial and reputational damage,” said Vahid Majid, head of Iran’s Cyber Police (FATA), in remarks to Tasnim, a news agency affiliated with the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
He said the police were taking “consistent and firm action against websites facilitating sigheh, matchmaking.”
Majid added that victims often avoid filing complaints due to concerns over honor and privacy, hampering legal follow-up.
Police continue to track offenders even in the absence of formal complaints, he added, warning that “sigheh-related pages were under full surveillance.”
The remarks followed Iran International's reporting last week that while many of these platforms are indeed fraudulent, some do function. The outlet contacted several Telegram channels and found that in some cases, women responded, sent voice notes, or even agreed to meet in person in case of a cash exchange.
Although the Islamic Republic denies endorsing these services, the investigation pointed to a functioning market where sex work is marketed as religiously-sanctioned contract marriage.
