Under the auspices of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, a webinar titled “The US and Zionist Regime’s Aggression Against Innocent Civilians: Where is International Law?” was held with the participation of scholars from Iran and around the world. What was heard in this session was not a diplomatic speech, but the cry of the world’s awakened conscience against the darkest chapter in the history of human rights.
This is not a war—it is a war crime
Dr. Heba Smith, director of the Muslim Women’s Association of Uruguay, quickly drew the red line. Referring to the conflicts in Gaza and Iran, she said: “This is not a war. Wars have rules. This is a violation of human rights: the right to life, the right to health, the right to housing, the right to education, and the right not to be a military target. When a residential area or a school is bombed while families and children are inside, international law says: this is a war crime.”
Dr. Nur Jana Saim, senior lecturer at the National University of Malaysia, added with fiery tone: “There is no justification for killing innocent children and civilians. No political gain, no military objective, no security claim can ever make this acceptable. Powerful countries must be held accountable.”
Bombing a school and UNESCO’s silence
Perhaps the most shocking remarks came from Dr. Sari Mahmoudah Wardani, a lecturer and researcher from Indonesia. Referring to repeated attacks on a school in Gaza, she asked: “Why must a school be bombed twice? Do they want to kill the students or the spirits of their fathers and mothers? In such circumstances, the UN and UNESCO are silent. UNESCO has become a fake UN institution that only acts according to America’s needs.”
The girls of Minab: a dream burned in the light
Sabahat Syed Rizvi, a cultural and media activist from India, spoke tearfully about the schoolgirls of Minab: “The innocent girls of Minab were living the dream of a future full of knowledge and brightness; but Israel’s attacks destroyed their future. Each of those girls was not a soldier, but children who were martyred in a horrifying manner. This massacre is a stain on the conscience of humanity.”
In the second part of the webinar, the speakers’ language went beyond describing the crime, moving toward exposing those responsible for the silence and clarifying a global responsibility. The voices of these women—from Uruguay to Malaysia, from Turkey to China—carried one message: “We will remain silent no longer.”
Silence in the face of injustice is complicity in crime
Dr. Nur Sa’adah, associate professor at the National University of Malaysia, drawing on Islamic teachings, said: “In Islam, we are taught that silence in the face of injustice is silent partnership with the oppressor. We cannot remain silent about the blood of the innocent in Minab. The empty shield of ‘collateral damage’ no longer works. You don’t accidentally attack an elementary school three times. This was a deliberate act to break a community’s heart.”
Yan Yitong, a researcher and social activist from China, analyzed the crisis structurally: “Civilians are the backbone of any society—teachers, doctors, farmers… The Geneva Conventions prohibit attacking them, but we still see hospitals bombed and schools destroyed. Protecting civilians is not just a legal obligation; it is a moral necessity.”
Women: primary victims and front line of resistance
Dr. Jahadeh Tekyeh-Khah, an Iranian lecturer and researcher, depicted the reality of modern warfare: “In modern wars, civilians, especially women and children, pay the heaviest price. Women face violence while also having to sustain their families under difficult conditions. Humanity is measured by how we protect the most vulnerable.”
Noor Nashira Adwiya Binti Mokhtar, a Malaysian social activist, also emphasized: “Every human being, regardless of background, religion, or nationality, deserves dignity and security. We may not be able to stop wars directly, but we can raise awareness and defend justice. Our voices matter.”
The martyrdom of a leader: an end or a new beginning?
During the webinar, speakers referred to the martyrdom of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Sabahat Syed Rizvi from India said on this matter: “When such a luminous leader—a beacon of wisdom and the guide of millions—is martyred, the world weeps. But his martyrdom is not an end; it is a new beginning and a flame of hope that will illuminate our path.”
Awakened consciences and the promise of victory
In closing, Hazirah, a student at the National University of Malaysia, spoke of the innocent children of war: “Children grow up exposed to fear and psychological trauma instead of school and childhood. Why should we respect human rights? First: every person deserves dignity and respect. Second: this respect brings peace and stability.”
The report from the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought webinar shows that the global community faces a great chasm: on one side, obvious war crimes; on the other, the silence of international institutions. But what seemed hopeful in this session was the consensus of global scholars on one principle: the silence is ending, because humanity is still alive.
Faeze Aghamohammadi