TEHRAN — A proposed law which has created a lot of controversy during the past week in Iran can trace its roots to a verse from the Quran which says,

“God has not made for any man two hearts inside his body. Neither has he made your wives whom you declare to be like your mothers’ backs, your real mothers. Nor has he made your adopted sons your real sons. That is but your saying with your mouths.”

This verse from the holy book has encouraged the media, as well as civil rights and children’s rights activists, to focus on a new law approved by the parliament, which allows foster parents to marry their adopted children despite the fact that parliament had originally intended to pass a law which forbade this type of marriage. 

The legislation, titled “Protection of Children and Adolescents with no guardian (adoption),” was approved by parliament last winter. It was lost, however, in the midst of pre- and post- election excitement. It was only a letter of protest, written by a women’s rights activist, which called the attention of the media to this issue.