International lawsuit demands truth, accountability for war crimes perpetrators in Iran’s Minab School
Addressed to:
- The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
- The United Nations Security Council
- The United Nations Human Rights Council
- The Secretary-General of the United Nations
- Prosecutors and national judicial authorities in countries that have recognized universal jurisdiction over international crimes, including Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, and other countries whose domestic laws allow the prosecution of international crimes under universal jurisdiction.
The signatories of this petition, with the utmost concern and sense of responsibility for the protection of fundamental human principles and international law, hereby draw the immediate attention of competent international and national authorities to a series of actions resulting from the illegal military attack carried out by the United States of America and Israel against the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 28 February 2026—a strike which, under established criteria of public international law, constitutes a manifest and grave violation of the prohibition on the use of force as set forth in Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations.
The prohibition on the use of force is a cornerstone of the contemporary international legal order and may only be derogated from in two strictly exceptional circumstances: first, with the explicit authorization of the United Nations Security Council; and second, within the framework of exercising the right of self-defense against an actual, ongoing, or imminent armed attack, pursuant to Article 51 of the UN Charter.
In the case of the attack in question, neither of these conditions were met. The Security Council issued no authorization for the use of force, and no credible or reliable evidence has been presented demonstrating the existence of an armed attack or an immediate and unavoidable threat against the United States or Israel. Accordingly, claims made by U.S. and Israeli officials invoking the principle of “self-defense” in justification of this operation are legally unfounded and incompatible with established interpretations of Article 51 of the UN Charter.
As a result, the aforementioned attack must be assessed under international law as an unlawful use of force and an act containing elements of aggression. This action was not a necessary response to any immediate and genuine threat but rather a premeditated operation conducted simultaneously with diplomatic negotiations, entirely lacking any military necessity.
Furthermore, this unlawful aggression has facilitated serious violations of international humanitarian law and the commission of war crimes against the civilian population, the effects of which became apparent from the very outset of the operation. Among these violations, the deadly attack on an elementary school in the city of Minab—which resulted in the deaths of dozens of children—stands out, due to its severity and human impact, as a shocking instance of blatant disregard for the fundamental principles of the law of armed conflict.
Given the nature of this incident and the international community’s commitment to combating impunity for international crimes, the signatories of this petition call upon the competent international and national authorities to initiate an immediate, independent, impartial, and effective investigation into this attack and to prosecute those responsible at all levels of command and decision-making.
Moreover, since many countries recognize universal jurisdiction over war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression, national courts and prosecutors in European, American, and other jurisdictions possessing such authority may independently initiate criminal investigations, regardless of the location of the crime or the nationality of the perpetrators, and, upon establishing responsibility, issue indictments and initiate prosecutions. This includes countries such as Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, and other states whose domestic legislation allows the prosecution of international crimes under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Incident Description
On the morning of Saturday, 28 February 2026 (8 Esfand 1404 in the Solar Hijri calendar), coinciding with the commencement of U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran, the elementary school “Shajareh Tayyebeh” in the city of Minab, Hormozgan Province, was struck by multiple missiles.
At the time of the attack, female students were present in classrooms, and the missile strikes completely destroyed the school building, causing the roof to collapse on students and teachers.
According to official statistics released by local authorities:
- 165 people were killed, the overwhelming majority being girls aged 7 to 12;
- At least 95 others were injured.
Published images and evidence from the scene indicate the total destruction of a civilian educational facility and the death of dozens of children.
Following the release of these images, U.S. and Israeli military officials claimed they were unaware that the missiles had struck a school. At the same time, certain media sources close to Israel alleged that the targeted site was part of a military base.
However, analyses based on several years of satellite imagery, field reports, video footage, and data from various sources show that:
- The school building was clearly separate from any military installations for years;
- There is no indication that the building was used for military purposes;
- The pattern of missile strikes and the nature of the destruction raise serious questions regarding the accuracy of targeting intelligence and the observance of precautions in military operations.
Legal Assessment
In accordance with fundamental rules of international humanitarian law, including the principles codified in the four Geneva Conventions and customary laws of armed conflict, parties to any conflict are obliged to observe the following principles:
- Distinction: Differentiating between military objectives and civilians or civilian property;
- Proportionality: Prohibiting any attack that would cause excessive civilian casualties in relation to the anticipated military advantage;
- Precaution: Requiring the attacking party to take all feasible measures to avoid or minimize civilian harm.
The missile strike on an elementary school during operational hours, when children were present, constitutes a manifest violation of these fundamental principles. Even assuming the presence of a nearby military target, carrying out an attack that results in the deaths of dozens of children constitutes a disproportionate attack and therefore a war crime.
Under the rules of individual criminal responsibility in international law, accountability for such crimes extends not only to the direct perpetrators of the attack but also to:
- Military commanders issuing the orders;
- Political authorities involved in decision-making;
- Any individual who knowingly participated in the planning, issuing of orders, or execution of the attack.
Requests
In light of all available evidence demonstrating clear violations of international law and the commission of war crimes, the signatories of this petition respectfully request that competent international and national authorities take the following actions in accordance with their legal powers and jurisdictions:
a) Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court:
- Initiate an immediate, independent, and impartial investigation under the Court’s criminal jurisdiction regarding war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression related to the 28 February 2026 attack.
- Collect and preserve all evidence related to the crime and summon and investigate suspects at all levels of command and decision-making.
- Upon establishing responsibility, issue indictments and prosecute both direct and indirect perpetrators of this attack.
b) United Nations Security Council:
- Exercise its authority to address threats to international peace and security and consider the possibility of referring the case to the ICC if necessary.
- Take appropriate measures to establish a ceasefire and prevent the recurrence of such attacks, including targeted sanctions against responsible individuals and states contributing to violations of international law.
c) United Nations Human Rights Council:
- Establish a fact-finding mission or special rapporteur to conduct an independent and documented investigation of human rights and humanitarian law violations arising from this attack.
- Submit detailed reports to international forums and recommend legal and remedial measures to protect the rights of victims and their families.
d) Secretary-General of the United Nations:
- Exercise authority to halt illegal attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory, pursue the matter promptly, and ensure the cooperation of all UN bodies and offices in evidence collection and support for investigations.
- Ensure coordination among international authorities to guarantee accountability of perpetrators and protection of victims’ rights.
e) Prosecutors and national judicial authorities in countries recognizing universal jurisdiction, including Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Norway, the Netherlands, and other relevant jurisdictions:
- Initiate independent criminal investigations under domestic laws regarding international crimes under universal jurisdiction, regardless of the location of the crime or nationality of the perpetrators.
- Collect and review evidence, and conduct field and expert investigations where necessary.
- Issue indictments, press charges, and prosecute responsible individuals, including military commanders, political authorities, and others involved in planning and executing the attack.
- Ensure legal protection and access for victims and their families to truth, justice, and reparations.
The killing of over one hundred children in an elementary school, irrespective of any political or military considerations, represents one of the most shocking breaches of international humanitarian law. Failure to investigate and hold perpetrators accountable for such a crime not only violates the rights of victims but also undermines the credibility of the entire international legal system and the global community’s commitment to combat impunity.
Accordingly, the signatories of this petition urge all responsible international and national authorities, including the ICC, the Security Council, the Human Rights Council, and national courts and prosecutors with universal jurisdiction, to act with urgency and determination to uncover the truth, achieve justice, and hold the perpetrators of this crime accountable.
Respectfully,
Signatories of the Petition
The partition is signed by 1144 Iranians and international figures