Iranian MP’s ‘transnational marriage solution’ draws ire

An Iranian lawmaker’s remarks regarding the marriage of single girls with foreigners, have drawn a public backlash inside the country.

Amir Hossein Bankipour, Isfahan’s representative in the Iranian parliament has recently suggested that that single girls over thirty should get married to foreign Muslims and Shias interested in Iran due to the lack of single boys in the country.

He was reported as saying on Sunday that according to the latest statistics the number of unmarried women over thirty in Iran far exceeds the number of unmarried men, and he offered transnational marriage as a solution.

The issue touched a raw nerve with many Iranians who said the comments show the Iranian women in a bad light as people who are desperate to get married.

Alireza Monadi Sefidan, a parliamentarian from Tabriz, said, “Bankipour must apologize to the great nation of Iran,” adding many MPs directly expressed their dissatisfaction with the comments in Monday’s session at the parliament.

Following the barrage of criticism, Bankipour said his words were taken out of context, stopping short of extending an apology to the public.

His comments have drawn harsh criticism among ordinary people too who accuse the MP of lacking national and religious zeal.

IFP Editorial Staff

The IFP Editorial Staff is composed of dozens of skilled journalists, news-writers, and analysts whose works are edited and published by experienced editors specialized in Iran News. The editor of each IFP Service is responsible for the report published by the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website, and can be contacted through the ways mentioned in the "IFP Editorial Staff" section.