In Iran, virginity before marriage is important to many girls and their families.

Sometimes men ask for a virginity certificate – a practice that the World Health Organization (WHO) considers to be against human rights.

But in the past year, more and more people have campaigned against him, the

bbc reports.

“You tricked me into marrying you because you are not a virgin.

No one would marry you if they knew the truth."

That's what Merjeme's husband told her after they had sex for the first time.

She tried to reassure him that, even though she wasn't bleeding, she had never had intercourse before.

But he didn't believe her and asked her to get a virginity certificate.

This is not unusual in Iran.

After getting engaged, many women go to the doctor and take a test that proves they have never had sex.

However, according to the WHO, virginity testing has no scientific merit.

Mary's certificate stated that the type of her hymen was "elastic".

This means she may not bleed after penetrative sex.

"It hurt my pride.

"I didn't do anything wrong, but my husband kept insulting me," she said.

"I couldn't take it anymore, so I took some pills and tried to kill myself."

Immediately, she was taken to the hospital and survived.

“I will never forget those dark days.

I lost 20 kg during that time," she added.

Despite the WHO denouncing virginity testing as unethical and without scientific merit, the practice is still carried out in some countries, including Indonesia, Iraq and Turkey.

The Iranian Medical Organization claims that they only perform virginity testing in specific circumstances – such as court cases and rape allegations.

However, most requests for a virginity certificate come from couples planning to get married.

So they turn to private clinics – often accompanied by their mothers.

A gynecologist or a midwife will perform a test and issue a certificate.

This will include the woman's full name, her father's name, her national ID and sometimes her photo.

It will describe the status of her hymen and include the statement.

"This girl seems to be a virgin."

In more conservative families, the document will be signed by two witnesses – usually the mothers.

For many men, marrying a virgin is still essential.

/Telegraph/