Looking for love in Iran | Unreported World

in Iran sex outside marriage is illegal but half the population under 35 aren't married and the government's worried they're not playing by the rules so they're doing something about it this is the debian offers a government-run online islamic dating institute apparently iran is facing a marriage crisis so the authorities have decided to step in and play cupid joining me is Ali Jafari our official translator approved by the Ministry of Culture the type of a fire you'd come apparently this government websites set up 250 marriages this year making bright future instead of making the wrong choice and end up based in their life fellow waiting to say hello is Mohammad Reza so Thani the websites PR money and Zara has a knee the chief matchmaker yes I quickly realize this is a dating website with a difference first start pictures are bound X Familia ended eligible photoshopped and it we don't want a passion English exists they expect parents be present on first dates but they say that's no barrier to success they introduced me to one of their clients it turns out Reza to Giza there is a success story thanks to the team here he's engaged to be married he's having free sessions with the website psychologist to prepare him for marriage shavon shavon go through Carradine a terrible versatile [Music] dr.mohammed command warns him that education and family background matter much more than love do harlots it has me maybe the yacon syrup a vast all yet cast member of the Lani Excel famous lake has Miasha body mr. Jafari translates the key message loving at first no her sight is the game emphasized very dangerous [Music] so I I met my partner love at first sight I'd say it was and we're together ten years so it isn't really that dangerous do you think bass familiar with that so that's another bomb I said okay butters I said yes record cold boy is this not an atom hmm I must be the minority soon the singles who click on the website can't choose their potential partners it's done for them by traditional matchmakers I want to meet them army of women in here are you all matchmakers they don't just take clients from the government anyone can approach them this agency is run by Malecha Maugham Tehran's most famous matchmaker everybody here working for you it's not just in this room it's parked in the next room as well full of matchmakers they work for free matchmaking is an age-old tradition in Iran it's seen as a religious good deed Miss McAdam shows me what she calls her daring room this essentially is a room full of donations from very nice people to couples who are starting off who are starting off in married life you might need a sewing machine or shoes the pile of presents is getting bigger but no one's taking them away the matchmakers get plenty of calls but the clients are getting more demanding twenty-eight-year-old Saba Lotfi has come here with her mother Mansart she's studying accountancy so far she's not met men who added up too much the next questions are about Islamic values like listening to music the religious sensories haven't cleared sure MA Musa be more just played a mojo solution Konya has to chart posing like a mother knew each other in Muharram on - if we shoot a monitor dilemma believe I'm on to you boss God as long as a coroner autumn ahem mrs. Kim sang get her a few diploma who Porsche by the episode a Hoover boy it's a body worship mothers and a giver sure it's a tough question in front of us chemo miss after Shruti happen an m/l honest puppy - on a goulash the world yeah penis after should hostel care they would on a hoodie dr. Hanuman give or take a year for when the sun's millon de llamada de nada Rambo you Adama diplomats in the corner that evening I visit sapa at home what would be the ideal husband for sabha in your opinion have an apple off a local chef know who buy them you get your mother's will say I don't food arsenal what your mum just described does that sound good to you sabes brother seems uncomfortable to Iran in a classroom would you know that you don't ready charlie el balon cateura so naughty Saba has told us about one of her university classes a compulsory course on marriage the group is led by a Lisa bore a professor of Islamic education also a matchmaker mister Jafari steps and he lived in the USA for years and has views in the situation there but the men donors go to the only school have a honey mustard family they know that in Tehran more young people now live together without being married something that shocked Sabah one of her fellow students says he can't get married even though he wants to [Music] Pacha daughter under 70 speaks of the you supposedly have excessive it is similar fussing against American origin we care about his activities in Iran the tradition of getting parental permission for marriage remains strong so if you don't have a good job or get on at the family you're in trouble even if you're deeply in love sorry so Ali sorry is your future wife to be used at right and Sarah is very evidently very identical twin that she's gonna do with an ashram valley foundational translation indicate is your true I have to ask you sorry was it love at first sight and I said about rational point I'm kidding Ali's 28 sorry and Sarah are 25 he's a filmmaker Zahra is an illustrator they met at work four months ago they want to get married as soon as possible but first their parents need to agree financial terms funny about the orchard when I'm sober component of it at home but I ain't no demon girl man you gotta hit there's a very beautiful and respectful dynamic between Ali and Zara and even though they have chosen not to be intimate before marriage it's so obvious that they're head over heels and deeply in love with each other [Music] scarf was a little bit too forward so we're going into quite a religious ceremony tonight sari will meet up with Ali at the house of a family friend it's the date when she and Muslims remember the death of Fatima the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad [Applause] [Laughter] [Music] you can really see it's such an emotional thing people are in tears out there and it's so interesting to see Vera's re and Ali and their dedication to the religion apparently you can make a wish as you stir the soup Zara and Ali are also praying for their own future together their families are meeting up in three days time and they're hoping they'll be given permission to marry what do you wish them for it yeah could you spell it another business that my pendulum I'm gonna leave out a little how many nights are they look gonna be they don't like to bet each other do you think this will work [Music] Zara and Ali are following tradition but other people their age are pushing the envelope apparently we've just walked in and a full-blown Iranian style photoshoot and according to these guys these photos are just to upload on Instagram this group of friends are studying psychology they tell me they're all single but go out in group dates is this you stunning I never got that money there's a serious dedication for social media I'm very very impressed before I came to Iran I was led to believe that boys and girls were not allowed to hang out together that's obviously not true she tried to talk to the ravenous on about the handset I just have this sauna album vanity bottom a maneuver science editor chef Gerren demolish couldn t jamming system ambassador fail again mr. detorri what do you make of this conversation here there are so much misconceptions about Iran it should be very interesting to observe it from close from up close that you know there is so much freedom here of course I conducted this conversation carefully avoiding sensitive topics like banned dating websites parties with alcohol or sex before marriage the social scene here is amazingly complex and it seems to be both subtle and quite restrictive at the same time and because of that some young Iranians feel trapped somewhere between Islamic culture and Western culture and they're not quite sure where their identity lies [Music] I'm rejoining Saba who's waiting to hear news from the dating agency that was taking me in the spot of shopping before she gets the call from Miss Madame [Music] so it's 3:30 and I know Miss McAdam his promise to cool so we shall wait and see I'm nervous for you Subba she tells me she's a romantic at hurt do you believe in love at first sight but inside there's that Mohammed is the editor idle for accountancy student Sabah miss Milgram's found a fellow in an ideal world she says she wouldn't use a matchmaker at all the matter seemed a bit predictable desandem irani Allah who Dante don't wanna trying to kiss da da Cunha narrow Saba's a conservative girl she won't go in casual dates or break the rules but she wants romance and that's difficult she didn't meet up with either of the matchmakers men [Music] we've joined Ali on the drive to Zara's home their families are meeting to negotiate the terms of the marriage a process known as bali beroun Jews are ease family think you're the right match for their daughter 50-gallon was able to get in equipment do you feel like the love between you and Zahra can survive obstacles like this decay gum - team we do nikuman my fashion division Malaysia let's pop the Jelena - inna da da da da moneys e trihard you can compose intelligent but it meant an army that banished [Music] Sarris parents like Annie what her mom says she and her family have concerns you all a bit nervous Nagar on a barn Omaha stream talk Baldacci Michelle Mahalo story mom very Akemi can make easy are they in Balham are asking today [Music] Ali's father is a cleric Zara's dad is a retired teacher her parents want to make sure she's provided for there's a number of things to discuss today the trickiest is a monetary guarantee that Ali must pay too sorry if she ever demands it it's paid in gold coins and is essentially an insurance policy for wives it's called MFE [Music] sorry and Ali tried to talk alone upstairs but they're joined by her dad her parents want her to get 114 gold coins that's 23,000 pounds Ali thinks it's too much and he can't afford it Ali offers 14 gold coins about 3,000 pans for shavasana inkay being as rich as Mahavishnu yet take a leave parents side with him her parents aren't budging is that the child iconography that dr. essentially child sure that'll be what - Sam - power - bojay things are getting tense and they ask us to stop filming [Music] that was nearly 4 hours of negotiations on two occasions aliens or I had to leave the room how are you going after that you can't meet ask Nana daily go dolphins you Stan they got on the dig out on Sunday got on before them I put on what's mine you nagging together I pulled off after them the decision is now out of their hands between Dawson the hands of hot new machine doesn't matter you don't wash your back be on you guys metallic when she shows we leave without knowing the final outcome the young Iranians I've met want to marry someone they love they also want to obey the rules of their faith and their parents but it's hard to reconcile these different aims no wonder so many find it easier to stay single after we left Iran we got a message compounded order sellers in home all MST move down to that shadow mobile finish on you I give a positive avati booze Esch living involve and possession stuff to poured out of me I'm sure that you pour on each a team you soften that words safaris the other typical well my law [Music] they got married a week later [Music] thanks for watching this classic unreported world episode click the logo to subscribe for more award-winning documentaries from the unreported world team we upload videos every Wednesday and Sunday keeping you up-to-date with content from all over the world [Music]

Channel: Unreported World

Views: 5,002,735

Keywords: dating in iran, iranian daters, looking for love in iran, unreported world iranian documentary, iranian dating site, iranian dating culture, dating iranian women, dating iranian men, iranian dates, iran documentary, unreported world documentary iran, iran's dating revolution, iran news, shaunagh connaire, unreported world, channel 4 unreported world, channel 4

Id: Vaafty1YK6M

Length: 22min 40sec (1360 seconds)

Published: Sun Apr 15 2018

Reddit Comments

[u/Darkheartprime]

HOW in the hell was the title not "Looking For Love In All Tehran Places"??????

[u/Grape72]

That poor guy proposing to three different women at 21, 22, and 23 years old. I can't imagine what that much rejection does to you. I bet the third time was when he said that's it, no more.

[u/aria089]

The youth in iran is having more casual sex than the youth in west 😂

[u/Tropicore]

People in this thread seem to have very one sided view of Iran. Politics aside, people there are extremely nice and it is surprisingly easy country to travel. Visited 2016 as a tourist (European). Youth of Iran did not seem to agree much with their political leaders...

[u/[deleted]]

How am I supposed to know if I should swipe right or left if everyone is wearing a veil over their face

[u/Theguy10000]

Ok people! Im from iran, I hope you guys are smarter than just looking at a 22 minute video with a couple of examples and say, ok that’s how all iranians date :)

[u/_AlreadyTaken_]

The dating agency sounds like they setting up business deals.

[u/klitchell]

93% divorce rate in the US, lol

[u/MortSahlfan]

Some of you need to get out more and see the world for yourselves. Buy a one-way ticket and leave for a year, and see where you end up, and what you learn.