Iran’s Human Rights Headquarters Vows Global Legal Battle Over ‘Terrorist Attack’ on Minab School
Tehran, Iran – Iran’s Human Rights Headquarters has strongly condemned what it termed a “terrorist attack” on a girls’ school in Minab, attributing responsibility to the “Zionist regime and the United States.” The incident, which reportedly led to the martyrdom of 165 innocent children and the injury of dozens more, has prompted a firm pledge from the Islamic Republic to pursue comprehensive legal action through both national and international channels.
Condemnation of a ‘Horrific Crime’
In a powerful statement, the Human Rights Headquarters of the Islamic Republic of Iran denounced the attack as a “horrific, organized, and unjustifiable crime.” The statement highlighted that the assault occurred during school hours, with students present in classrooms, thereby underscoring the civilian and educational nature of the target. It unequivocally rejected any claims of military justification, emphasizing that targeting children in an environment intended for their growth, education, and development represents an absolute disregard for human dignity and the peremptory norms of international law.
Breaches of International Law and Child Rights
The Headquarters asserted that the attack constitutes a blatant violation of fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, including the distinction between military and civilian targets, proportionality, precautions in attacks, and the prohibition of striking civilian locations. It explicitly referenced the 1949 four Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols, which grant special protection to schools and educational facilities as civilian property. The statement warned that any deliberate attack on such sites could be considered a war crime.
Furthermore, the incident was declared a direct contradiction of commitments outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This convention upholds children’s inherent rights to life, survival, development, education, and complete security, obliging states to provide special and effective protection in all circumstances. The attack on a girls’ school was framed as an unprecedented assault on the fundamental rights of children and a violation of the principle of enhanced protection for children in armed conflicts.
Pledging Comprehensive Legal Pursuit
Expressing profound sympathy with the bereaved families, teachers, and the people of Minab, the Human Rights Headquarters stressed that this incident is not an isolated event but a dangerous symbol of the normalization of violence against civilians, particularly children. It warned that impunity for such crimes strengthens cycles of unpunished offenses and jeopardizes collective security.
The Headquarters affirmed its unwavering commitment to pursuing legal action through both national and international avenues, including leveraging existing capacities within the international criminal justice system. It vowed to demand criminal accountability for all perpetrators, instigators, and supporters of this alleged crime until full justice is achieved.
Denouncing International Inaction and Double Standards
The statement also voiced grave concern over the “silence and passivity” of certain international human rights mechanisms and organizations claiming to defend children’s rights. It criticized what it called “double standards, politicization, and selective reactions” as detrimental to the credibility of the international human rights system, especially concerning children’s rights, and corrosive to the trust nations place in these institutions.
A Call to Global Conscience
The Human Rights Headquarters concluded by reiterating that targeting defenseless children crosses all legal, humanitarian, and ethical red lines. It underscored the international community’s responsibility in facing this historic test, warning that continued silence in the face of such atrocities would not only be considered indirect complicity with human rights violators but would also pave the way for the recurrence of crimes against future generations.
