THE MINAB SCHOOL STRIKE: A TEST OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND GLOBAL CONSCIENCE

MAJLIS PERUNDINGAN PERTUBUHAN ISLAM MALAYSIA (MAPIM)
Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
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PRESS STATEMENT
20 April 2026

Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (MAPIM) reiterates its strongest condemnation of the deadly strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, Iran, which has resulted in the tragic loss of more than 150 innocent lives, the majority of them schoolchildren.

ON CLAIMS OF “NO KNOWLEDGE” BY U.S. LEADERSHIP

Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (MAPIM) views the claim by U.S. President Donald Trump that he had “no knowledge” of the Minab school strike as deeply troubling and difficult to reconcile with established command responsibility in modern military operations.

The use of long-range precision weapons such as the BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile is not a tactical decision taken in isolation. Such strikes are executed within a structured chain of command, governed by strict authorisation protocols, intelligence vetting, and operational oversight at the highest levels.

In this context, a claim of “no knowledge” raises serious questions:

Was there a breakdown in command and control?

Was oversight bypassed in the use of lethal force?

Or is there an attempt to evade political and legal accountability?

Under international humanitarian law, particularly the doctrine of command responsibility, leaders may bear responsibility not only for orders they give, but also for actions they knew or should have known about.

This is not merely a matter of political narrative. It is a question of legal accountability.

MAPIM stresses that any attempt to deny knowledge, without a transparent and independent investigation, risks being perceived as an effort to deflect responsibility from a grave incident involving mass civilian casualties, including children.

The international community cannot accept ambiguity when civilian lives have been lost at this scale.

Accountability must be established through facts, not statements.
Responsibility must be determined through law, not denial.

This incident is not merely a military episode. It is a grave humanitarian tragedy that raises serious questions under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), particularly concerning the protection of civilians during armed conflict.

1. A POSSIBLE GRAVE BREACH OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Under the Geneva Conventions and customary international humanitarian law, all parties to a conflict are bound by fundamental principles:
● Distinction: parties must distinguish between civilian objects and military targets
● Proportionality: attacks must not cause excessive civilian harm relative to anticipated military advantage
● Precaution: all feasible steps must be taken to avoid or minimise civilian casualties

A strike that results in the mass killing of children in a school environment raises serious concern that these principles may have been violated.

Even if a military target existed nearby, the scale of civilian casualties strongly suggests a failure of proportionality and precaution, which may amount to a grave breach of IHL.

2. CIVILIAN OBJECTS ARE PROTECTED UNDER LAW

Schools are classified as civilian objects and enjoy special protection. Attacks on such sites, whether direct or indiscriminate, are prohibited.

Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, intentionally directing attacks against civilian populations or civilian objects may constitute war crimes.

Where recklessness or disregard for civilian life can be demonstrated, accountability becomes a legal obligation, not a political option.

3. ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT BE SELECTIVE

MAPIM is deeply concerned by attempts to obscure responsibility or shift narratives in the aftermath of the strike.
International law must be applied consistently, not selectively.

If similar incidents occur elsewhere, they are rightly investigated and condemned. The same standard must apply here.
No state, regardless of power, is above the law.

Failure to ensure accountability will further erode the credibility of the international legal system and embolden future violations.

4. THE FAILURE OF “PRECISION WARFARE” CLAIMS

The Minab tragedy exposes a harsh reality:
So-called precision weapons do not guarantee protection for civilians when intelligence is flawed, targeting is careless, or decision-making prioritises military expediency over human life.

The argument that the school was not the intended target does not absolve responsibility.
International humanitarian law judges outcomes in light of obligations, not intentions alone.

5. CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATION

MAPIM calls for:
●An immediate, independent and transparent international investigation under UN auspices
● Full disclosure of targeting decisions, intelligence basis, and weapon systems used
● Accountability for all individuals and entities responsible, including command responsibility
Reparations and justice for the victims and their families

6. A BROADER PATTERN OF IMPUNITY

This incident cannot be viewed in isolation. It reflects a broader pattern where civilian lives are repeatedly lost in conflict zones, while accountability remains elusive.

From Gaza to other theatres of war, the international community is witnessing a dangerous erosion of humanitarian norms.

If the world fails to act decisively, international law risks becoming irrelevant.

7. CONCLUSION: A MORAL AND LEGAL CROSSROAD

The Minab school strike is a defining moment.
It will determine whether international humanitarian law remains a living framework that protects the innocent, or whether it is reduced to rhetoric without enforcement.

MAPIM urges the global community, particularly the United Nations and responsible states, to act with courage and integrity.
Justice must not be delayed. Justice must not be denied.

“Whoever kills a soul… it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:32)

Issued by:

Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President
Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (MAPIM)