“Compulsory military service” which is also referred to as “Sacred Service under the Flag”, has been a serious concern and obstacle in the lives of young people and even middle-aged men since its inception until now. Those who have passed the age of eligibility and are still subject to compulsory military service are affected by it.

In recent years, the living conditions have generally caused many young people to be discouraged from going to the military due to difficult life circumstances and being placed in special social situations. They are forced to sacrifice their lives and endure all the deprivation caused by not going to mandatory military service. Some others comply with this obligation and endure other difficulties during their service. In fact, it is rare to find someone today who willingly and eagerly serves under the flag.

Confrontation of youth and their families with compulsory military service.

With a brief look at the issue of mandatory military service in our country, unfortunately we come to the bitter conclusion that military service is a major obstacle for young people and many men who have passed the age of service and are still subject to it. It has also caused great suffering for their families. Not only has it given thousands of young men and middle-aged men a hard time, but it has also brought them face to face with many deprivations and difficulties. Every young Iranian boy who reaches the age of 18 must go to mandatory military service. This mandatory service, which has been a burden on Iranian young men since its inception, has now become a bigger problem and even a dilemma for young people and their families, given the current circumstances that have affected the lives of young people and the general population.

Young people, depending on the specific circumstances of their lives, are either forced or unable to go to compulsory military service and are left feeling helpless. Each young person and their families are faced with this situation based on their individual circumstances and are under immense pressure. For a young person who is born into a poor family and is forced to provide for their elderly parents and siblings, going to military service and being absent for two years will be a burden on their family; on the other hand, not going to compulsory military service will also bring many difficulties and they will have to struggle. Not fulfilling this duty and remaining in a state of dependency will deprive them of many social rights and hinder their progress and success in life. Unfortunately, the military service system, except in very limited cases, disregards the problems of young people and their families and forces them to serve. In such circumstances, going or not going to compulsory military service has become a major concern for young people who have reached the age of eligibility

History.‌

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Compulsory military service in Iran.

And its members.

Under the flag or mandatory military service in 1925, for the first time at the request of Reza Shah and with the presentation of a plan to the National Assembly, it was approved and became a law. According to this plan, military service was mandatory for boys who reached the age of 18 and its duration was set at 24 months. The mandatory military service law, which has been in place for almost half a century, was implemented by the Pahlavi dynasty as a law with clear frameworks and rules, in the direction of preserving national interests and, of course, against the will and desire of young people and their families. Now, for almost half a century, it has been implemented by the Islamic Republic without hesitation and sometimes by selling it to those who are exempt.

Compulsory military service, which in the past only included young men, now does not discriminate between old and young, and there are men who are both subject to this law and their sons, and in some cases even fathers and grandsons, all three generations are subject to compulsory military service. The reason for this is that in the Islamic Republic, the pardons and exemptions that used to be common and part of the compulsory military service law, have been ignored and disregarded in all but very limited cases. The failure to pardon and exempt individuals, despite their age, has created a problem in society, as there are currently 30 rounds of compulsory military service in the country. This situation has cast a heavy shadow over the lives of Iranian men and has created a major obstacle for them. A person subject to this law, besides not being able to register their marriage, does not have the right to register any other documents due to their military service, and as a result, they are deprived of

This irrational and unjust treatment of the youth of the country by the military service system has led to a situation where Iran now has the highest number of conscripts in its history, with 30 cycles of conscription. This has caused numerous problems for many young people and their families. Currently, those born between 1975 and 2003 are subject to mandatory military service. With such circumstances and under the rule of the government, a man who has lived almost half a century and has gray hair is still suffering under the burden of conscription and the problems that come with it, with no way to continue a simple and ordinary life.

In the past system, the law and custom of mandatory military service was based on the principle that every year, the military service area would call upon those who were eligible for service, and a certain number would be enlisted while the rest would be exempted permanently and given an exemption card under the flag. Additionally, no one would remain eligible for more than three or four years, as every few years there would be a general amnesty for those who had been eligible for a few years and had been absent, exempting them from military service. This ensured that individuals would not be considered eligible for a long period of time.

Conversation with a few soldiers on duty.

Mohammad, who finished his mandatory military service last year, speaks of peace and says, “The main reason that led me to serve in the military was to continue my education. Because at the age of eligibility, it was not possible for me to continue my studies.”

Mohammad, is single and has a degree in mechanical engineering. He has served for 24 months in non-combat areas and his monthly salary has been around 700,000 tomans. Regarding his days off during his service, he says: “Soldiers’ leave depends on the will of their commanders, but usually those who are married or have children will have more leave rights compared to single soldiers.”

This young man also expressed concerns about the problems that may occur for young people during military service: “Those who serve in remote bases or locations may face issues such as falling into addiction or dealing with thoughts of suicide and desertion.”

Another soldier named “Parsa” who has completed about 9 months of his military service, talks about peace: “As I am serving in a war zone, according to the regulations of the military service, I have to serve for 18 months.” Parsa is single and is serving in a so-called war zone, receiving a monthly salary of approximately 3 million and 200 thousand tomans this year, and has actually faced an increase in salary.

“Parsa adds: Soldiers who are stationed in border areas and are married, receive a monthly salary of nearly 5 million tomans and their service period is 17 months, meaning they also have longer leave compared to others.”

The necessity of reviewing and removing mandatory military service law.

Many people believe that the law of national service duty has been opposed by the people, especially the young generation, since its inception. This plan was presented to the National Consultative Assembly by Reza Shah 98 years ago without any expert work or consultation with the people, and it has taken a legal form. This is while from the beginning, young people have been dissatisfied with it and have resisted going to military service, to the point that governments have been forced to resort to force and compel young people to conscription.

Over the past century in Iran, in addition to the dissatisfaction of young people, many families have also been opposed to their children going to military service. This dissatisfaction and reluctance of young people to go to military service, especially during the Islamic Republic era, has become a common and widespread issue. This dissatisfaction was most evident during the 8-year war between Iran and Iraq, to the point that relevant institutions such as the Revolutionary Guards, Basij, and law enforcement were forced to arrest young people on the streets and forcefully send them to military service. Therefore, reviewing this law and removing mandatory military service from the fate of young people in the country – like dozens of other incorrect laws that have been abolished so far – is necessary.

Going to compulsory military service for two years, especially in the sensitive conditions of today’s youth and at a time when the presence of young people in many families is like the need for oxygen, and its absence will lead to more family struggles, poverty, and destitution, requires that the law of compulsory military service be permanently eliminated from the country’s laws.

In short, going to the military has no benefits for young people nowadays.