Iran’s Forgotten Victims: Why Former Iranian Conscripts Deserve Protection, Not Punishment

The recent deaths of Iranian conscripts in a U.S. strike on a military barracks in southeastern Iran reveal a truth the world often overlooks: Iranian conscripts are victims of the Islamic Republic, not its willing defenders.

According to the Associated Press, a U.S. strike on the 388th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Sistan and Baluchestan Province led to the death of five conscripts and injury of many others (Associated Press, July 16, 2026).

For many observers, these deaths may simply appear as unfortunate wartime casualties. But for millions of Iranians who have lived under a compulsory conscription system, they represent something far more disturbing: young men forced into conscription by law, denied the ability to leave, and ultimately used as expendable human shields.

Conscription in Iran is mandatory for virtually all able-bodied men. Refusal can result in imprisonment, restrictions on employment and education, travel bans, and other severe legal consequences. These young men did not enlist out of loyalty to the regime; they served because they had no lawful alternative.

Human Shields in Uniform

The most disturbing aspect of the recent strike is not only that conscripts died, but that they appear to have been left in harm’s way despite the obvious danger.

According to reports by Iran International, as military tensions escalated and Islamic Republic military sites came under repeated attack, conscripts were reportedly denied leave and required to remain at their bases, while some commanders were absent from their posts or sought safer locations. Reports have also indicated that conscripts are being used as “human shields”, forced to remain at vulnerable military installations with no ability to leave.

These reports reinforce a long-standing reality of Iran’s compulsory military system: conscripts have no control over where they serve, cannot refuse orders, and cannot simply walk away without risking severe punishment. They are among the least powerful people within the military hierarchy.

This reality was also recognized by Reza Pahlavi, the opposition leader, who stated, “While the Islamic Republic’s warmongers hide in Tehran and their safe havens, they have abandoned conscript soldiers and young troops in defenseless garrisons.” His remarks reflect what many Iranians have long understood: conscripts are victims of the regime, not its loyal defenders.

Regardless of political affiliation, his statement reflects a truth recognized by many Iranians: conscripts are the sons of Iran, not the regime.

Yet for many former conscripts, victimization does not end when they leave Iran.

Since Canada’s designation of the IRGC as a terrorist entity in 2024, many former conscripts have faced lengthy immigration delays, procedural fairness letters, inadmissibility investigations, and years-long security screenings because of conscription they were legally compelled to perform, which mainly includes menial non-combat tasks. They had no authority, no decision-making power, and no meaningful choice over where they served.

The irony is striking. The same young men whom the Iranian regime considered expendable enough to leave in vulnerable barracks are now, in some immigration systems, viewed with suspicion simply because they were forced to wear a uniform.

Canadian courts have repeatedly emphasized the importance of individualized assessments when determining inadmissibility. However, many former Iranian conscripts have experienced something very different. Procedural Fairness Letters and inadmissibility decisions issued under section 34 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act have, in numerous cases, treated compulsory service in IRGC-affiliated units as sufficient to establish membership, despite overwhelming evidence that these individuals were conscripted by law, had no ability to refuse service, had no say in which military branch, unit, or location they were assigned to, and often performed only menial duties. This growing body of decisions highlights a concerning disconnect between the legal principles established by the courts and their application in practice.

The recent deaths of these conscripts are a tragic reminder of who they truly are.

They were compelled into service.

They were denied the freedom to leave.

Some ultimately lost their lives because of that lack of choice.

To continue treating former Iranian conscripts as if they voluntarily supported the very regime that coerced and sacrificed them is both legally and morally flawed.

Iranian conscripts are not the architects of repression. They are among its first victims. Canada’s immigration system must recognize that distinction.

References

ï  Associated Press. U.S. expands strikes into northern Iran and disables ship trying to run blockade. Published July 16, 2026. https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-hormuz-strait-war-july-15-2026-b7c592f269d822407dd6b5641602bf25 

Iran International. Reports from audiences indicate commanders absent while conscripts remained at their posts amid intensified military tensions. Published July 17, 2026.
https://www.iranintl.com/202607171139

ï  Reza Pahlavi. Official statement regarding the deaths of Iranian conscripts following the strike on military barracks. Published on Instagram, July 16, 2026. Available from Reza Pahlavi’s official Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/p/Da28yTdCmoG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==