- The Iranian government has ammended the law to allow single women over-30 to adopt kids
- Potential mothers must physically and mentally healthy, financially self-sufficient, and religious, while holding no criminal convictions
- The government has also introduced maternity leave for single women who choose to adopt
- The scheme comes just days after a TV presenter in Egypt was jailed for discussing the issue single motherhood
Unmarried women over 30 will soon be allowed to adopt kids in ultra-conservative Iran, under a new law.
The country’s Welfare Organization has eased existing laws to allow unmarried women aged over 30 to adopt children.
The law which was originally tabled in 2013 allows unmarried women, first-time parents and those without any offspring to adopt.
Despite the new law, which could pave the way for a string of unmarried moms in the conservative state, single women will still have to wait as childless couples are put to the front of the queue.
In order to qualify, potential mothers must physically and mentally healthy, financially self-sufficient, and religious, while holding no criminal convictions.
Officials claim that many of those interested in adopting are looking for children aged from six up to 16-years-old.
Under the legislation, if a single woman who has previously adopted a child decides to marry, officials will do a thorough background check on the adoptive father-to-be.
The news comes at a time when adoption is booming in Iran, with many couples signing up to take in a child.
This latest statistics show a 34-percent growth in the number of children adopted in Tehran Province last year.
The government relaxed adoption laws in 2015 to make it easier for Iranians to adopt.
Tehran has also introduced incentives for those who wish to take in a child, including maternity leave.
“Since the new law on adoption was approved in 2015 to facilitate the growth and development of abandoned children or orphans in a family environment, the adoption rate has increased considerably,” Ahmad Meydari, deputy minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Welfare, told state media earlier this year.
The government also amended the law to allow women who adopt children to take up to 84 days leave for public and private institutions.
Egyptian TV presenter Doaa Salah was jailed for three years last week after she discussed women having children out of wedlock on her popular TV show.
The presenter was convicted of inciting public immorality and debauchery as well as ”working to destroy societal norms” after debating the issue of single motherhood.
