Teenage Daughter of Iranian Dissidents Missing for Two Weeks

February 14, 2024

1 min read

Two teenage girls in Iran – Aida Moradbehrouzi and Hasti Mohammad Hosseinion – have been unaccounted for since January 31

Aida, 14, is the daughter of Sori Babaei, an activist who was imprisoned last year for her involvement in an anti-mandatory hijab campaign, and Mohammedreza Moradbehrouzi, a former political prisoner

Two teenage girls in Iran – Aida Moradbehrouzi and Hasti Mohammad Hossei – have been unaccounted for since January 31.

Aida, 14, is the daughter of Sori Babaei, an activist who was imprisoned last year for her involvement in an anti-mandatory hijab campaign, and Mohammedreza Moradbehrouzi, a former political prisoner.

Sori Babaei was granted temporary leave on February 13 after the disappearance of her daughter and her classmate aged 13, a source close to the family told IranWire.

According to this source, the police recently informed Aida’s father that they were unable to locate the two teenagers.

They left home around noon on January 31 and have not returned since. CCTVs captured them at Qazvin city’s main bus terminal.

The pair live in the impoverished Mehregan neighborhood, located 25 kilometers from Qazvin.

IranWire’s source suggested that an unidentified individual may have influenced the schoolgirls via the Rubika messenger to run away from home.

"The messages sent to the girls encouraged them to flee and advised them against carrying bank cards, birth certificates, mobile phones or any identification documents with them," the source said.

Rubika is an Iranian messaging platform developed by the Tosca company, a subsidiary of the Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order Headquarters.

Rubika operates under the umbrella of government institutions in Iran.

The family has urged judicial authorities and the police to investigate the messages exchanged by the two teenage girls on Rubika messenger.

The police have stated that they don’t have access to internal messaging platforms.

There is speculation that Islamic Republic authorities might use the teenagers to put pressure on Sori Babaei.

The "Women's Revolution" social media account said, "The prosecutor and judiciary head of Qazvin Province, told Sori Babaei, 'Due to your daughter's disappearance, if you wear a headscarf, express forgiveness and repent, we will release you and help find your daughter.'"