"I offer you my baby if you handle me death as a prize": Martyrdom as a weapon
Iranian mothers participate in controversial ceremony offering their infants as potential martyrs, mixing religious symbolism with terrorism.
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Would you ever imagine handing over a baby to die in “honor” of an ideology or leader? In Iran, hundreds of women say they would.
This past June 27th, in the Islamic Republic of Iran, hundreds of mothers raised their infants high above their heads in a public ceremony, symbolizing their willingness to offer their children as martyrs to God and to Imam Hossein. The event, framed as an act of defiance against Israel and the United States, was held in direct response to Israel’s “Rising Lion” military operation.
The ceremony drew inspiration from the Battle of Karbala, a pivotal 7th-century event in Shi’a history. According to religious tradition, Imam Hossein once lifted his infant son toward enemy forces to request water; the child was instead killed by an arrow. In Iran’s modern reinterpretation, the act became a political statement.
“We want to show them we are not scared of anything, and we will support our state until they are destroyed,” said a mother, holding her child above her head during the rally.
Religious Context vs. Extremist Misinterpretation
Martyrdom in Islam, known as shaheed, traditionally honors those who die defending their faith, justice, or community. Both Sunni and Shi’a traditions revere martyrs for acts of moral courage and legitimate defense. Yet in recent decades, terrorist groups have weaponized this concept, reframing it to justify violence against civilians.
Terrorist groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Hezbollah have embedded martyrdom rhetoric into recruitment campaigns, propaganda, and indoctrination. By presenting violence as a sacred duty, these terrorist organizations manipulate deep-rooted religious beliefs to legitimize terrorism, a practice widely rejected and prohibited under international law.
In Iran and other jihadist-aligned states, dying as a martyr is often portrayed as the highest honor. That narrative has been amplified during the current geopolitical tensions with Israel and the United States, with Tehran positioning itself at the center of an ideological and military confrontation.
“They need to know that Imam Hossein is our everything, and we should sacrifice our lives for him,” declared another mother during the ceremony.
Propaganda and Public Spectacle
The June rally in Iran was a choreographed blend of religious symbolism and political terrorist theater. Crowds chanted in unison, “Death to America, death to Israel!”, followed by children’s choir performance of patriotic songs, while large screens displayed videos of Iran’s missile program in action. Organizers described the event as both a "show of faith and a morale booster for the public."
Critics argue that such displays are less about faith and more about cultivating a culture of terrorism and sacrifice that can be exploited for military and political objectives. Human rights organizations warn that involving children in these rituals, even symbolically, blurs moral boundaries and deepens cycles of terrorist radicalization.
As Iran’s leadership continues to frame its geopolitical struggle in religious terms, the line between spiritual devotion and terrorism grows increasingly thin, and in that gap, the youngest and most vulnerable become symbolic tools of war.