Das iranische Regime, das bereits während des Iran-Irak-Kriegs in den 1980er Jahren Kindersoldaten in Selbstmordkommandos zur Minenräumung einsetzte, macht erneut Propaganda für den Einsatz von Kindern in bewaffneten Verbänden. Diesmal ruft es die Jugendlichen dazu auf, in den Krieg in Syrien zu ziehen und sich für die Verteidigung von Bashar al-Assad zu opfern.
„Iran has released a propaganda video aimed at recruiting child soldiers to defend Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. A new promotional video clip entitled ‚Martyrs who defend the sacred shrine‘ has been broadcast on Iranian state media in recent days, encouraging children to take part in the civil war in Syria. In parts of this clip, young children can be heard singing: ‚On my leader orders I am ready to give my life. I don’t regret parting from my country. In this just path I am wearing my martyrdom shroud. From Mashhad [north-east Iran], I will walk on foot to Damascus. I am like the bird who flocks to the sacred shrine.‘ “
(Die Journalist Jenny Stanton für die Online-Ausgabe der britischen Tageszeitung The Daily Mail: „Iran calls for boys to fight as child soldiers in Syria alongside Assad’s troops: Shocking propaganda video tells youngsters to defend the dictator“)
