- Will Iran legalize gay marriage?1¢1 %
Iran’s Islamic Penal Code, grounded in Sharia principles since the 1979 Revolution, criminalizes all same-sex conduct with penalties ranging from flogging to execution and provides no legal recognition for same-sex partnerships or marriage. No legislative proposals, policy shifts, or official statements indicating movement toward legalization have emerged in recent years. Trader consensus at 98.3% for “No” reflects this entrenched framework, where constitutional and religious institutions prioritize traditional marriage definitions. Realistic scenarios that could still alter the outcome include a major political transition, sustained external diplomatic pressure prompting reforms, or internal reinterpretation of religious law, though such changes would require overcoming significant structural and institutional barriers within the current system.
Regler
This market will resolve to “Yes” if the government of Iran legally recognizes marriage between two people of the same sex anywhere within Iran by December 31, 2026, 11:59 PM ET. Otherwise, this market will resolve to “No”. Legal recognition refers to any law, constitutional amendment, or binding judicial decision that allows two adults of the same sex to marry with the same legal status as opposite-sex marriages under Iranian law. Recognition must apply within Iran’s legal system and permit same-sex couples to enter a legally valid marriage recognized by Iranian civil or religious authorities. The recognition must be in force by the listed deadline. The legalization of civil unions, domestic partnerships, or other forms of limited recognition that do not grant the legal status of marriage will not qualify. Recognition of marriages performed abroad without permitting such marriages to be performed within Iran will not qualify. The primary resolution source will be a consensus of credible reporting.