The Number of Girls Fleeing to Tehran Has Increased by 12%

A member of the Tehran City Council has reported a 12% increase in the number of women and girls fleeing to the city, expressing regret over the situation. Masoumeh Abad stated in an interview with the Nasim news agency on Friday, October 2, that these individuals have come from various parts of Iran, and the 'Tehran Municipality Message Center' has only been able to identify them within the 'central area of Tehran.' The Message Center is responsible for identifying runaway girls and women in Tehran and attempts to facilitate their return to their families and homes. However, according to Abad, 'unfortunately, the number of individuals who flee again after returning to their families is high, and we cannot provide statistics on this.' It appears that this council member has reported a 12% increase in the number of runaway girls heading to Tehran compared to last year based on the center's statistics. Abad did not disclose the exact number of these girls in 2015 and the first six months of 2016. Runaway girls are defined as those who have fled their homes and families for various reasons and seek refuge in society. The phenomenon of runaway girls has become a social issue in Iran in recent years, but officials have refrained from releasing statistics in this area. According to a confidential report published in 2006 by the Ministry of Education's Cultural Office, in addition to an unprecedented increase in numbers, the age of runaway girls has reportedly decreased to as young as 9 years. Sociologists and social analysts cite poverty, family issues, and the strictness of parents as factors contributing to girls fleeing their homes in Iran.