Speaking at a meeting with Islamic scholars and religious leaders in India, Ejei condemned U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran and described the bombing of Shajareh Tayyebeh School in Minab, southern Iran, as an apparent war crime.
He said children at the school were killed in such a manner that many of their bodies could not be identified, forcing families to undergo DNA testing to establish the identities of their children.
Ejei said dozens of other schools, hospitals, cultural centers and national and religious infrastructure had also been targeted during the attacks. He stressed that civilian sites are afforded special protection under international humanitarian law and that attacks against them are prohibited under international law.
The judiciary chief also pointed to the Israeli genocide in Gaza, saying the failure of international organizations to stop the killing of Palestinians had encouraged further aggression.
“If international organizations had stood up when the extensive crimes were committed against the people of Gaza, the aggressors would not have dared to attack another country today,” Ejei said. “The indifference of the international community provides the ground for these crimes to be repeated.”
He said the Islamic Republic had reaped the benefits of nearly five decades of resistance against foreign powers and had become the only country to directly confront the United States.
“Iran is peace-seeking and promotes justice, but it will never submit to oppression and coercion,” Ejei said.
Addressing Indian scholars and religious leaders, he called for greater cooperation among nations and faith communities to confront aggression and prevent further wars.
“If nations and religious leaders cooperate and consult with one another, the powers seeking dominance cannot attack Iraq one day, Afghanistan the next, and then Lebanon, Gaza and Iran,” he said. “We must stand against aggressors so that lasting peace and tranquility can be established in the world.”
Mojtaba Darabi - H.Hakimzadeh
