TEHRAN Iran's Parliament on Sunday passed a bill that would require court approval for boys under 18 or girls under 15 to get married. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the age of majority for both sexes has been 16 but those underage have been able to marry with just the permission of their parents, AFP quoted the state television as reporting.
Sunday's bill was approved on first reading in August and still needs final approval by the Guardian Council, which has final say on all laws passed by Majlis. In recent years Iranian authorities have promoted marriage to prevent "social corruption" but have also approved provisional marriages or "sigheh," which are recognized by Shiite Islam. Provisional marriages, a common practice among the less well-to-do here, allow men either married or single to have relations with women for a predetermined period of time which can be renewed.