https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-62423983

Iranian women who need certificates to prove they are virgins

Being a virgin before marriage is still crucial for many girls and their families. It's a value that is deeply rooted in cultural conservatism.

But recently, things have started to change. Women and men around the country have been campaigning to put an end to virginity testing.

Last November, an online petition received almost 25,000 signatures within a single month. This was the first time virginity testing was being openly challenged by so many people in Iran.

"It's a violation of privacy, and it's humiliating," says Neda.

When she was a 17-year-old student in Tehran, she lost her virginity to her boyfriend.

"I panicked. I was terrified about what would happen if my family found out."

So, Neda decided to repair her hymen.

Technically, this procedure is not illegal - but it has dangerous social implications, so no hospital will agree to perform it.

So Neda found a private clinic that would do it in secret - at a heavy price.

"I spent all my savings. I sold my laptop, my mobile phone and my gold jewellery," she says.

She had to sign a document to take full responsibility in case something went wrong.

A midwife then proceeded with the procedure. It took about 40 minutes.

But Neda would need many weeks to recover.

"I was in a lot of pain. I couldn't move my legs," she recalls.

She hid the whole thing from her parents.

"I felt very lonely. But I think that the fear of them finding out helped me tolerate the pain."

In the end, the ordeal Neda endured was all for nothing.

A year later, she met someone who wanted to marry her. But when they had sex, she didn't bleed. The procedure had failed.

"My boyfriend accused me of trying to trick him into marriage. He said that I was a liar and he left me."

What girls and women in the Western countries learn is that a hymen can tear through normal activities. So, a lack of blood during the first sexual experience doesn't necessarily mean anything.

It's a shame that Iran is under the control of religious nutters.

Also, there are some who are born without a hymen.

I still have my virginity card!  No one has been able to take it from me, cuz I just close my eyes and think of England.

What better thing could you think of to improve both mind and spirit lol

Only if you are a woman.

Nope.

Does this mean that in Iran, if you have followed all the rules but find yourself widowed at a relatively young age, you can't remarry? You can't reasonably expect a widowed person to be a virgin.

U.S. / N.America:

there will be very, very few weddings...

just sayin'