Iran Recruits Children as Young as 12 to 'Defend the Homeland'
Iran Recruits Children as Young as 12 to 'Defend the Homeland'
Rights groups condemn Iran's reported recruitment of children as young as 12 to defend the homeland, as a deadly Tehran checkpoint incident highlights the risks.
New reports allege Iran has begun recruiting children as young as 12 to defend the homeland, a practice rights organizations say could violate international law.
The allegations come alongside claims of a deadly incident in Tehran in which an 11-year-old was killed while manning a checkpoint, underscoring the human toll of involving minors in security duties.
Rights groups warn that such recruitment may amount to a war crime and call for urgent safeguards to protect children and hold officials to account.
Analysts say the pattern points to a broader push by authorities to mobilize youth for conflict, raising fears about long-term damage to children's rights.
The international community has urged transparency and compliance with child-protection norms, with advocates pressing for independent investigations and immediate safeguards.
