She is only 19 years old but is well known for her courageous anti-government activities in Iran. On November 13, 2025, Bita Shafiei was arrested by Iranian Security forces in Shahinshahr in Central Iran along with her mother Maryam. It was shortly after she recorded a video supporting Crown prince Reza Pahlavi, which circulated across social media, that security forces invaded her home. The Crown prince condemned the abductions declaring that, "This abduction and arrest is just the latest result of an increasingly desperate and fractured regime, clamping down on growing protests in Iran."
The Crown Prince went on to say, "Bita has asked us to be her voice. We will not let her down. Bita, I salute your courage and the courage of thousands of young people like you. For you, for all of our people, Iran will rise."
In one of her last videos before her arrest, Bita said, "I am a young woman who wants to live, not simply exist. My dream is to see Iran free one day."
Back in August of 2023, Bita was arrested during protests against the chemical attacks on Iranian schoolgirls. She warned in a viral video that, "The government thrives in instilling fear and they would not hesitate to use violence and extreme punishments against anyone protesting." It was during her arrest that Bita later revealed that she suffered severe torture, including the fracturing of her fingers. A massive "Free Bita" campaign has been launched all across Europe demanding to know her whereabouts and calling for her immediate release.
Bita is a powerful voice of a young generation of teenagers crying out for democracy and freedom in Iran. The government is terrified of the young voices and their immediate response is to silence them. The male-dominated culture of Iran hates women and has oppressed them for the last four decades after the exile of the Shah and the installation of the Khomeini Regime. Women are monitored daily by high-tech security cameras tracking them to see if they are in violation of the Hijab Law.
I join Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi in being a voice for Bita and all young teens in Iran struggling for freedom. May God answer their cries of oppression and liberate them from this oppressive dictatorship government.
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