For most Orthodox religions, sex is tricky business. They struggle so hard to suppress it, especially outside the confines of marriage, it’s a miracle that most of these people actually manage to reproduce. But each particular sect develops their own individual loop holes that allow for a little breathing space. In the case of Islam, ‘temporary’ marriages offer a solution for the lonely and sexually frustrated young Muslim.

Although the practice is still mostly shunned, there is resurgence in its popularity, now that Iran’s Interior Minister Mostafa Pourmohammadi openly encourages it. The move is motivated almost entirely by the growing political pressure coming from the country’s youth, who now make up over 50% of the population. Often too poor to afford houses and expensive dowries, young men under the age of 30 pine for the ability to relieve their sexual urges in a way that does not violate their religious traditions. Critics however argue that the practice is no better than prostitution, since the marriages sometimes last no more than a few hours, with a dowry being paid to the bride as part of the marriage contract.

Personally, I’ve never objected to prostitution; even if I did, it wouldn’t stop people from engaging in the world’s oldest profession. Why it should be illegal for two consenting adults to engage in an activity that is legal when it’s free is beyond me. Still, in this case, it seems to me nothing more than silly religious placating. Do any of these pious young men really think their God is so naïve as to be fooled by the intentions of the groom? One wonders how they reconcile the fact that a loving God, who forbids sex before marriage, would make the young life of any adolescent entirely focused on the idea. Such a tease!

All kidding aside, my concern lies with the poor women involved in these mut’ah, who may not get their fair shake in the transaction. It’s no surprise women are often victims in the unregulated and dangerous world of the sex trade. Would proper protection be used? How would they treated, if they were known to take active parts in these marriages? Would their lives be at risk?

This is but a small example of the conservative elements of Islam trying in vain to adapt to the growing needs of its practitioners. As much of the rest of the world enjoys the ability to engage in pre-marital sex without the danger of being imprisoned or punished, the Muslim religion continues to struggle with how to maintain its orthodox values amidst other competing ideologies. In the case of mut’ah, critics who insist the practice is nothing more than glorified prostitution are not wrong in their analysis. Although it may benefit young couples who want to experiment with sex, it will undoubtedly create a dangerous and possibly violent new sexual trade in a country that often considers women to be second class citizens.