- Now the emphasis is on matchmaking, dating is banned like western countries
Iran is facing a steep decline in the fertility rate. That’s why the government has launched a ‘Matchmaking App’ to promote weddings here. After verifying the identity of the user, this app tests his psychological compatibility. Then advises the youth to find a partner for marriage.
According to officials, the name of this app is ‘Humdum’. It has been created by the Islamic cultural body of the government. The app provides matching and counseling services to potential couples, their families. Along with this, the couple stays in touch for four years after marriage. Western-style dating is banned in Iran under Islamic law. But many young people do not like to get married in the traditional way. Fertility rate among Iranian women has decreased by 25% in the last 4 years. Here the fertility rate is 1.7 children per woman. Iran began to reverse its family planning policies a decade ago. This made it difficult to obtain contraception in the country.
In 2014, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said in an order that promoting the population would strengthen national identity. The unwanted aspects of the western lifestyle will be tackled. Subsequently, the Iranian parliament provided loans and other financial incentives to encourage marriages and the birth of children.
Lolita M. Pyron