Image source: Iran International
Photos published by Iranian state media on Saturday showed children receiving firearms training at a night gathering in Tehran’s Azadi Square. This comes amid reports that the Islamic Republic is recruiting minors as young as 12 to guard checkpoints and perform security duties during the war.The photos come months after an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official announced that the minimum age to participate in war support activities had been lowered to 12, allowing 12- to 13-year-olds to participate in patrols, checkpoints and logistics if they volunteer.A recruitment campaign called “For Iran” was launched in Tehran to register people to join the security forces. Rahim Nadali, an IRGC official in Tehran, told state television that people as young as 12 can sign up to help the IRGC and Basij youth volunteer militia stand “against the global bully,” a term used to refer to the United States.
Residents reported seeing armed and untrained youth at designated checkpoints throughout Tehran since the outbreak of war on February 28 with the United States and Israel.A Tehran resident told AFP, “Military pickup trucks loaded with heavy weapons are blocking the roads and searching cars. They pass by, and just 100 meters away, there are several private cars with teenagers holding Osis, and they stop the vehicles again.”Another resident said that when a missile lands somewhere, “the area is immediately sealed off.
Untrained teenagers carrying Kalashnikovs shout orders at people – ‘Stand here, stand there’ – and regularly fire warning shots into the air.”According to Nadali, the tasks of the young recruits include “collecting security data and operational patrols,” as well as organizing car convoys at night in the city.“Considering the ages of people asking to join, we have now lowered the minimum age to 12, because 12-13 year olds want to participate.”Human rights groups have previously expressed concern about the involvement of minors in security-related activities in Iran, including reports during previous anti-government protests of children appearing in military uniform or being used in support roles.
