Introductory Note By Femena: This report on the Minab School bombing and the killing of 168 persons, 110 of them students, which occurred on the first day of the war by Israel and the United States on Iran, was written by journalist and women’s rights defender Elnaz Mohammadi and originally published in Sharq Daily. It has since been determined that the missiles that struck the school were Tomahawk missiles used by the United States. The devastation and death toll were especially high because the school was hit multiple times in what appears to have been a double- or multi-strike attack.
The pain and suffering of the students, teachers, and their families have consistently been dismissed by those who support this destructive and illegal war. Given the lack of connectivity and the internet shutdown, voices supporting violence and destruction in Iran have often been amplified, with some continuing to manufacture consent for this war by promoting narratives “from the ground” that claim to prefer death by missile over living under the oppression of the Islamic Republic.
As a rights and peace organization, Femena does not believe this represents a genuine or meaningful choice. With extensive contacts on the ground, we also do not believe this reflects the broader sentiment among Iranians. For this reason, we have translated and are publishing this article in an effort to document and reflect the destruction and pain this war is causing, particularly for innocent civilians.
Our aim is to amplify the voices and perspectives of rights defenders in the country and those most impacted by this horrific crisis, who continue to bear the brunt of attacks on civilians and ongoing violations of humanitarian norms. We will continue to publish and document similar perspectives emerging from Iran.