An investigation conducted by the reformist Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat revealed the existence of an online platform called "Adam and Eve," approved by the Iranian government, which allows parents to register their sons and daughters for marriage starting at age 13.
The website enables the creation of complete profiles for teenagers without any age filtering. Registration data shows a high concentration of underage users in the country's poorest regions, where early marriages remain common. Girls appear primarily between ages 13 and 16, while boys appear between ages 16 and 18.
Iran International, an opposition news site operating outside the country, also published the investigation's findings. The website's manager, Mohammad-Hossein Askari, stated that the activity complies with Iranian law, which sets the minimum marriage age at 13 for girls and 15 for boys.
According to published data, approximately 300,000 people attempted to register on the site, and 70,000 profiles were approved following identity verification and interviews.
In 2021, the Iranian parliament approved the "Population Rejuvenation and Family Protection" law, which imposes penalties on those who "discourage childbirth" or "delay marriages." According to Iran's Statistics Bureau, nearly 26,000 marriages of girls under 15 were registered in 2024, compared to 32,000 the previous year.
Asharq Al-Awsat reporters successfully created a complete profile for a girl born in 2012 (age 13) without any age restrictions or identity barriers.
Profiles examined in the investigation showed that users under 18 are concentrated in economically disadvantaged areas of Iran, where early marriages are a common phenomenon. The site's registration form includes 80 questions and emphasizes adherence to religious commandments, gender roles, political positions, and views on hijab, makeup, and social interactions.
