Eighty-five percent of young Iranians living in cities are in favor of allowing temporary (sigheh) marriage, according to a new study by Iran’s Sports and Youth ministry. The daily Sharq reported on the study. It said 85 percent of 3,000 Iranians between the ages of 18 and 29 who were polled in the country’s 14 largest cities approved of the institution of temporary marriage. The news story did not say what proportion of males and what proportion of females approved. Temporary marriage is virtually unknown outside Iran and is widely criticized inside the country as little more than a religious cloak for prostitution. Marriages can be contracted for as short as a few hours.