Afghan Migrant Children Recruited Under ‘Fatemiyoun Brigade’ for Deployment to Syria War
The Islamic Republic government recruited Afghan migrant children under the banner of the “Fatemiyoun Brigade” and deployed them to the Syrian war.
According to human rights activist groups in Iran, the Islamic Republic government forced Afghan migrants, particularly children, into military service by promising financial rewards and legal residency, and sent them to fight in Syria. The Hrana news agency also expressed concern by publishing reports on the recruitment and deployment of children under 18 years old for combat in Syria.
Following the published report, Hrana news agency added: “This report constitutes a series of violations of international humanitarian laws (laws of war) and children’s rights, and reveals the extent of Iran’s involvement in recruiting, training, and deploying children to war zones.”
The purpose of publishing these reports is to expose the systematic exploitation of vulnerable populations, with special focus on Afghan migrants and children by military and paramilitary forces affiliated with Iran. The aforementioned reports were prepared by “Loy Sarwala,” the human rights violators database, the Guardians Initiative, and Hrana news agency, which specifically focus on the use of children—individuals under 18 years old—in combat zones, and primarily include Afghans and sometimes Pakistanis.
These reports indicate that Iran has employed Afghan children in the Fatemiyoun Brigade and Pakistani groups in the Zainebiyoun Brigade. Some Afghans residing in Iran have also stated in interviews that they encountered individuals who were sent to the Syrian war by Iran in the Fatemiyoun Brigade. One Afghan citizen residing in Iran who wished not to be identified stated: “A while ago when police stopped us, we accidentally overheard one of the Afghans who was limping say he had been shot. The officer lifted him onto his motorcycle and told him that he had gone to Syria and was in the Fatemiyoun group. He took him on the back of the motorcycle and then released him again.”
“Gauth Janbar,” a former Afghan diplomat in Russia, also commented on the use of children: “No country has the right to recruit migrant children in their countries, and it is necessary for large international organizations to take action to address this problem.”
