Iran organizes mass weddings for couples who say they are ready for 'sacrifice' in war with US and Israel
Iranian authorities have held mass marriage ceremonies in Tehran for hundreds of couples enrolled in a state-backed program in which participants declare their willingness to sacrifice their lives in the event of a conflict with the United States and Israel.
Mass marriage in Tehran's Imam Hossein square PHOTO AFP
The events took place on Monday evening in several major markets in the Iranian capital, including the vast Imam Hossein market, where, according to Iranian media, more than 100 couples attended the ceremonies. In total, about 1000 couples would have joined their destinies.
The images were broadcast by state television, in a context in which the regime in Tehran is trying to maintain the morale of the population amid regional tensions and repeated threats made by US President Donald Trump regarding possible new military actions against Iran.
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“The Self-Sacrifice Program”
According to Iranian media, participants in the ceremonies signed up to a program called “janfada” — roughly translated as “self-sacrifice” — in which volunteers commit to taking part in actions deemed national defense, including forming human chains around strategic infrastructure.
Authorities say millions of Iranians have expressed support for the program, including high-ranking officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.
Mass marriage in Tehran PHOTO AFP
Ceremonies with military and religious symbolism
Images published by the AFP agency and local media show couples arriving in the square in military vehicles equipped with machine guns, before attending the religious ceremony held on a stage decorated with balloons and images of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
He took over after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the conflict, but has not appeared in public since.
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“The country is at war, but young people also have the right to marry,” said a young bride, dressed in a white Islamic dress, in a material published by the Mehr agency.
Another attendee said the event coincided with the wedding anniversary of Imam Ali and Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad — an important religious reference for Shia Muslims.
“We received their blessings and came to convey wishes to the people on the street”he said.
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Public mobilization amid conflict
Since the beginning of the war, the Iranian authorities have organized almost daily demonstrations and public events in support of the regime, in an attempt to demonstrate national unity and mobilization in the face of the conflict.
The collective ceremonies in Tehran are seen as part of this campaign to boost morale and promote the idea of sacrifice for state and religion.
