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Iran to set up marriage bureaux | Iran to set up marriage bureaux |
(about 18 hours later) | |
The Iranian government is to set up a network of marriage bureaux to help young Iranians find a husband or wife. | The Iranian government is to set up a network of marriage bureaux to help young Iranians find a husband or wife. |
The centres aim to advise people on the traditional way of finding a spouse. | The centres aim to advise people on the traditional way of finding a spouse. |
Finding a suitable partner is a tricky business as men and women are limited in how much they can meet socially, BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne says. | Finding a suitable partner is a tricky business as men and women are limited in how much they can meet socially, BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne says. |
Most Iranian marriages are not exactly arranged, but relatives often take it on themselves to introduce suitable candidates. | Most Iranian marriages are not exactly arranged, but relatives often take it on themselves to introduce suitable candidates. |
There are even reported to be private matchmaking organisations, effectively dating agencies, some of them run by clerics. | There are even reported to be private matchmaking organisations, effectively dating agencies, some of them run by clerics. |
'Unsuitable boys' | 'Unsuitable boys' |
The government used the anniversary of the marriage of Ali, the first Shia imam, to Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, to announce a series of measures to boost the institution. | |
Centres will be established to give advice to young people on how to find a spouse. And banks will issue more loans to pay for weddings. | Centres will be established to give advice to young people on how to find a spouse. And banks will issue more loans to pay for weddings. |
Sermons in a number of Friday prayers across Iran marked the anniversary by echoing the message of the government and calling for marriage to be made easier. | Sermons in a number of Friday prayers across Iran marked the anniversary by echoing the message of the government and calling for marriage to be made easier. |
It seems the government is worried that some young Iranians might be getting into unsuitable relationships, our correspondent says. | It seems the government is worried that some young Iranians might be getting into unsuitable relationships, our correspondent says. |
And, now that more than 60% percent of university students are female, many Iranian women are complaining they can't find a husband to match their level of education. | And, now that more than 60% percent of university students are female, many Iranian women are complaining they can't find a husband to match their level of education. |
But even in the Islamic Republic, young men and women still do manage to exchange phone numbers and even to arrange the occasional illicit rendezvous, our correspondent adds. | But even in the Islamic Republic, young men and women still do manage to exchange phone numbers and even to arrange the occasional illicit rendezvous, our correspondent adds. |
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