Reports and videos circulating on social media indicate that courses are being held for children and adolescents in certain mosques and Basij bases in Iran—programs in which military training and familiarity with weapons such as Kalashnikovs and Winchesters are reportedly being provided to individuals under the age of 18.
According to the images and claims, these programs are being carried out in an organized manner within public spaces, a matter that has sparked widespread backlash and concern among child rights advocates.
The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teacher Trade Associations issued a statement describing military training for children in mosques and Basij bases as a flagrant violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
As a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Iran is obligated to protect children from any form of exploitation and from actions that could threaten their physical and mental well-being. Under international standards, training or preparing individuals under the age of 18 for military activities is considered to be in direct conflict with the principle of the “best interests of the child.”
The continuation of such practices could come under scrutiny by human rights organizations as a sign of the militarization of educational spaces and a breach of international obligations concerning child rights - an issue that critics argue requires urgent clarification and intervention by independent bodies.
