Iranian Government Launching Official Dating Site, To Compete With ‘Immoral’ Sites

The Iranian government is setting up an official dating site, to help young people in the country to marry.

The move, as reported by local press, comes as a reaction to “immoral” online dating websites currently operating.

The official government site seeks to promote marriage amongst the under-30s in the country, who make up 55% of Iran’s 77m population.

One reason for the move was to discourage the practise of “sigheh”, where couples can be married “temporarily” for an hour or so, to bypass strict “no sex before marriage” laws.

Speaking to newspaper Arman, the deputy minister for youth and sport, Mahmoud Gholrazi, said the site would be a place “where young people can sign up and introduce themselves.”

Gholrazi said there are around 300 “illegal and immoral” dating sites which promote the practice of sigheh.

Iran has a single population of around 11m, and a divorce rate which has reached an all-time high of 22%.

The minister did not reveal whether it would be similar to standard dating sites, but said they were working with counsellors and psychologists to produce it.

The site is expected to be launched in the next few days.