TEHRAN: Reports and eyewitness accounts suggest that children are being used in security roles in Iran during the ongoing conflict, raising serious concerns among human rights groups.
The issue gained attention after the reported death of 11-year-old Alireza Jafari, who was allegedly killed in an air strike while manning a checkpoint with his father in Tehran on March 11. His mother, Sadaf Monfared, told a local newspaper that the pair had been assisting Basij militia patrols to help maintain security in the city.
An official from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently said that “volunteers” aged 12 and above could be recruited under a new programme. The initiative, called “Homeland Defender Fighters for Iran,” is expected to place minors in roles such as patrol duties and checkpoint operations.
Eyewitnesses in Tehran and other cities, including Karaj and Rasht, told media outlets they had seen teenagers, some carrying weapons, stopping and searching vehicles at checkpoints.
The Basij militia, which operates under the IRGC, is commonly deployed to maintain internal security. Reports suggest that due to manpower shortages, younger individuals are now being used in support roles.
Human rights organisations have strongly criticised the practice. Human Rights Watch said recruiting children, especially those under 15, could amount to a war crime. Experts warn that involving minors in such roles puts their lives at risk and could lead to unintended violence due to lack of training and experience.
Legal experts also noted that international law places strict limits on the use of children in military or security roles. They warned that deploying minors could endanger both the children and civilians.
Analysts say the move reflects increasing pressure on authorities to maintain control during the conflict, but it has raised alarm globally over the protection of children’s rights.
