Executive Director of the program “Shoes Left Behind in memory of the Jasmines of Minab,” reported strong public reception, as well as a notable presence of foreign residents in Iran at the event.
Mahdee Maqsoumi emphasized:“This reception shows that the language of imagery, beyond borders, can convey the suffering of children in war.”
According to him, this field performance, which began on Sunday, April 19, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Hazrat Masoumeh (PBUH) and the beginning of the Ten Days of Karamat, will continue until Friday, April 24.
The program is held at the Ivān-e Entezar space in Valiasr Square and is inspired by the familiar atmosphere of a school morning assembly. The shoes are not scattered, but arranged like an orderly line of students—quietly and peacefully placed side by side. Inside each shoe, a flower has been placed, symbolizing lives lost—like flowers cut down—in this horrific war crime.
Amid these orderly rows, a void becomes visible—a missing pair of shoes that stands out more than anything else. At this point, a red geranium has been placed in memory of the missing martyred child, Makan Nasiri. This absence is not merely a visual element, but a moment of silence—a pause that confronts the audience with the absence of a child and the unfinished course of their life.
Explaining this design, Maqsoumi added:“We tried to recreate a space that is familiar to everyone—a simple school morning assembly. But within this order and familiarity, we have placed a profound absence—one that is seen, felt, and cannot easily be ignored.”
He continued:“The ‘Shoes Left Behind’ field performance is part of a broader line of symbolic actions that have emerged in recent years across different parts of the world to highlight the condition of children in war zones. We have tried to connect this global narrative with a local experience and show that violence against children is not confined to one geography.”
Referring to the deaths of 168 children, teachers, parents, and staff of Minab School during the attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh School, he stated:
“This incident represents one of the most tragic examples of violations of children’s rights in the context of conflict, and in this performance, we have tried to represent this loss through the language of imagery.”
He also referred more broadly to the situation of children in other conflict-affected regions, including Gaza and Lebanon, stating:“The reality is that in recent years, children in various parts of the world have been exposed to widespread violence. This program is an effort to remind us that children’s rights in war remain one of the most serious humanitarian concerns at the international level—repeatedly violated throughout history by the Zionist regime and its patron, the United States.”
In conclusion, Maqsoumi emphasized:“Our aim with this field performance is not merely a symbolic act, but to create a space for reflection, dialogue, and a reminder of our collective responsibility toward children who, as a result of the aggression of warmongers against countries committed to children’s rights and peace, have been deprived of the opportunity to continue their lives.”
It should be noted that this program is being held with the support of more than 20 national and international NGOs, from Sunday, April 19 to Friday, April 24, at the Ivān-e Entezar venue in Valiasr Square, Tehran.
