Iran's Basij Militia Recruiting Children as Young as 12 to Patrol Tehran Streets

Iranian authorities have confirmed the recruitment of children as young as 12 years old into the paramilitary Basij militia, according to multiple reports from April 5, 2026. These children, armed with automatic weapons, have begun patrolling the streets of Tehran to suppress potential protests and enforce government internet restrictions. Witness accounts describe armed teenagers aged 13-14 manning checkpoints in northern Tehran, where they stop vehicles and search passengers' phones and personal belongings.

One woman reported to AFP that during a Monday evening drive, she encountered two checkpoints staffed by armed teenagers who stopped her car, with one boy opening her passenger door and sitting beside her to inspect her phone and photographs. Rahim Nadali, an official with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated in state television last week that the Basij militia is being flooded with young volunteers. The children's duties reportedly include manning roadblocks, patrolling at night to prevent potential uprisings, and monitoring compliance with internet restrictions.

Human Rights Watch has condemned the practice, stating that recruiting children under 15 for military purposes constitutes a war crime. Bill Van Esveld, the organization's deputy director for children's rights, said Iranian authorities appear willing to risk children's lives for additional manpower.