Iran: Child soldiers recruited from the age of 12 in the army

In Iran, authorities are encouraging children as young as 12 to join the army. Amnesty International France has condemned this as a serious violation of international law and a war crime. Children should not be involved in warfare.

“They were wearing masks to hide their faces, but it’s obvious they are children. They haven’t even finished growing,” said one witness. Armed with an AK-47 rifle, these children are given the heavy responsibility of monitoring checkpoints, joining patrols, or supporting equipment distribution.

This recruitment campaign called “Fighters for the Defense of the Homeland in Iran” is being carried out nationwide by Iranian authorities. Volunteers are invited to join the army starting at the age of 12 by signing up at mosques in Tehran hosting the bases of the armed forces of the Bassidj.

Since February 28, 2026, strikes by Israel and the United States have resulted in 1,900 casualties in Iran, including 216 children. By recruiting children, Iranian authorities are putting them in grave danger.

With testimonies and evidence, Amnesty International is calling for an immediate halt to the recruitment of minors, emphasizing that children have no place in war.

Amnesty International is a global movement of over 10 million people dedicated to addressing human rights abuses worldwide through research and campaigns. The organization is impartial and independent, funded entirely by public donations.

Alireza Jafari, an 11-year-old boy, was killed by an Israeli drone attack while accompanying his father, a Bassidj of the CGRI, at a checkpoint in Tehran. Witnesses have observed children as young as 12 participating in military activities and patrolling checkpoints in Iran.

An investigation by Amnesty International revealed the presence of children handling weapons in various cities and confirmed the dangerous involvement of children in military operations.

In response to these developments, Amnesty International is calling for the immediate cessation of the recruitment of children and condemning it as a violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime.

Iran’s recruitment of children into the armed forces violates international law, especially the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which prohibits the recruitment of children under 15. Amnesty International urges Iranian authorities to stop recruiting children and release those already enlisted.

Amnesty International strongly opposes the recruitment of children into armed forces and demands that Iranian authorities cease enlisting individuals under 18. Children’s participation in conflicts jeopardizes their physical and mental well-being.

To support this cause, Amnesty International calls for:

– Prohibition of enrolling children under 18 in the armed forces in Iran, including Bassidj structures of the CGRI. – Immediate release of children recruited into the armed forces.

(Source: Amnesty International, BBC Persian, and eyewitness testimonies)