Iran teachers demand investigation into military training of teenagers

Iran’s teachers’ union has raised concerns that reported military-style training involving children and teenagers in mosques and Basij centers may violate international child protection standards.

In a statement referencing videos circulating online, the union said some minors appeared to be undergoing organized instruction that included the use of weapons such as Kalashnikov rifles and Winchester firearms.

The group described the reported activities as a form of “militarisation of childhood” and warned that they could constitute a breach of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child obligations.

The union called for an independent and transparent investigation into the reports by relevant domestic and international bodies.

By Tamilla Hasanova