Minab school ruins preserve children’s memories; Iran
A school in Iran’s southern city of Minab, where more than 100 children were reportedly killed in a strike earlier this year, is being transformed into a memorial site as the building is unlikely to reopen.
The Shajareh Tayyebeh school was hit on February 28, at the beginning of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran. Iranian officials said more than 100 students were killed in the attack.
The school’s blue entrance still bears the colourful symbols that once welcomed students, including a map of Iran, oversized pencils and portraits of renowned figures from science and literature. Inside, the building now displays photographs of the children at birthday celebrations and other moments before their deaths, alongside black memorial banners.
An Associated Press investigation found evidence that at least one US missile struck the school. However, the Trump administration has not directly acknowledged responsibility for the attack and has not released the Pentagon’s findings.
The two-storey building remains heavily damaged, with classrooms frozen in the aftermath of the strike. Desks are buried under debris and sections of the ceilings have collapsed.
Officials have proposed preserving the site as a war museum and memorial. Hormozgan Governor Mohammad Ashouri Taziani has said the damaged building will be converted for that purpose.
A section of a nearby cemetery has also been dedicated to the victims. Families and residents continue to visit the graves, while authorities have yet to recover the remains of three children, according to local residents.
with inputs from AP
