Concerning Images of Life Under Islamic Republic of Iran’s Rule

Cyberspace depicts concerning images of life under the Islamic Republic of Iran’s rule.

Although the Islamic Republic imposes extensive restrictions on sexual behavior outside the framework of formal marriage in Iran in accordance with religious law, it appears that the development of the massage services industry, even operating underground in various cities, has transformed it into a cover for prostitution.

Recently, the advertisement of massage services on social networks, in addition to being highly visited, reveals many contradictions in the enforcement of various laws by the Islamic Republic. In Iran, public morality is defined based on Islamic principles, but the popularity of the massage industry on social networks presents a notable paradox.

One of these massage service pages is run by a woman who identifies herself as a holder of a degree in physiology from Tehran University and an international certificate in therapeutic massage from Malaysia, and in this page’s profile it states: “I am a masseuse and I provide massage services for women and men in Tehran.”

These Instagram pages appear to operate as a hidden network of prostitution under the guise of therapeutic services. These services include home massage, foot massage, hot stone massage, and Thai massage, and in some of these pages, photos of a massage salon apparently located in northern Tehran are visible. There are also several videos of young women massaging men, apparently allowing customers to choose their preferred masseuse.

According to reports from the “Iran International” news network on the current day, one of these pages directs individuals to a Telegram channel that offers another dimension of services. It appears that this Telegram channel provides customers with something beyond traditional therapeutic massage, and their services also include three-way or group sex and relations with transgender individuals.

Although prostitution is illegal in Iran and severe punishments are prescribed for those who participate in it or facilitate it, and adultery—meaning sexual relations between two people without formal marital relations with each other—or homosexuality can lead to imprisonment, whipping, or even execution, the underground trade of sexual relations in Iran continues, fueled by factors such as poverty, unemployment, severe economic problems, drug addiction, and others.

According to published reports, the prices of services listed in the aforementioned Telegram channel vary. These service prices are set at 2 million 100 thousand for a 90-minute massage, 4 million 700 thousand tomans for massage and sexual relations, 6 million 200 thousand tomans for one night of services, and 13 million tomans for 24-hour services.

Customers must pay half of the costs before the service is provided and the remainder after the service is rendered, and advance payments are also made to another person’s account, which suggests fraud. From another perspective, it can be said that these social media pages, regardless of whether they are fake or real, depict a concerning image of life under the Islamic Republic of Iran’s rule, and unfortunately there are other similar pages as well.

Given that the Islamic Republic government takes action to close social media pages where protesters and opponents of the Islamic Republic are engaged in activity, these pages ambiguously advertise sexual services and in some cases openly conduct these advertisements, with their service prices varying from 2 million tomans to 15 million tomans depending on various factors.

A 24-year-old woman named “A” whose image appears in one of these promotional advertisements allegedly provides services to customers by presenting health certificates and coronavirus vaccination records to assure that there is no risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases through sexual relations. Photos of her on social networks show that for each day of accompanying one customer for sexual services, she charges 13 million 500 thousand tomans and even travels with customers.

Meanwhile, another 27-year-old woman named “R” speaks of her readiness for international trips with customers.

The bitter events that occur daily in Islamic Iran demonstrate that the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran deal with prostitution selectively and in many cases turn a blind eye to realities, which apparently suggests that the decisions and manner in which system officials handle the issue of sexual trafficking are influenced by corruption and bribery.

According to statements by experts and specialists in this field, effective dealing with the phenomenon of prostitution is only possible through identifying and attempting to address root causes such as poverty, economic problems, and a non-security and pathological approach to this problem.

Services provided under the guise of massage and their advertisement through social networks are taking place while the Islamic Republic system continues to pursue the enforcement of its strict laws in the field of mandatory hijab and combating it, while prostitution, even in its explicit form and even with advertising in this field, is occurring in Iran and exploits vulnerable women easily and conveniently, right before the eyes of the government.