Iran ‘pre-nups’ land many men in jail

WHEN Sadegh married his college sweetheart, he never thought he would end up facing ruin and even prison because of huge sums demanded by his wife’s family.

But the “mehrieh” (affection) system, in which future husbands agree to pay a certain number of gold coins to the bride in the event of divorce, has left thousands of men in Iran languishing in jail and many more destitute.

“Our mehrieh was high, around 800 gold coins, but when we were planning the wedding, we didn’t think about how it might end,” Sadegh, who was divorced last year after eight years of marriage, said.

Each gold coin is worth 10 million rials (R3 900).

A worker on Iran’s average wage would need 50 years to earn 800 gold coins.

“Even when the problems started and we talked about separation, it was supposed to be mutual and no mehrieh was going to be paid,” Sadegh, who spoke on condition that his full name not be used, said.

But then his wife’s family got involved, and suddenly Sadegh found himself in court where he was told to pay 110 coins immediately or go to jail.

Pleading he was broke, a judge brokered a deal in which he had to pay 120 coins, one a month.

Then, five months in, Sadegh lost his job as a photographer and now the threat of prison hangs heavy over him. – AFP