Iran’s Vulnerable Children: The Tragic Reality of Child Organ Trafficking

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT

Rising Alarm in Iran: Children Abandoned and Exploited for Organs

In recent years, the horrific practice of child organ trafficking has escalated in Iran, though much of it remains hidden from public view. Children, especially those from marginalized or impoverished families, are particularly vulnerable to this illegal trade due to their good health and vulnerable living conditions.

According to the Council of Europe, human organ trafficking, particularly involving children, ranks as one of the most profitable forms of crime worldwide, with an estimated $1.5 trillion in profits each year, making it one of the largest illegal industries after drug trafficking. 

On July 11, 2017, Hamshahri newspaper published a shocking story about children victimized by organ traffickers, sparking widespread concern among families. That same month, an interview aired on social media titled “Children Under the Knife for Organ Trafficking.” Fatemeh Daneshvar, a social activist and member of the Tehran City Council, was quoted, verifying reports of children’s bodies found abandoned in the deserts near Tehran, missing internal organs and eyes. She highlighted a case of a 7-year-old girl whose body was found abandoned with organs missing, stating that children in high-risk areas like Harandi often disappeared without their families reporting them missing.

Government Denial: Iranian Authorities Dismiss Child Organ Trafficking Reports

Despite these reports, Iranian authorities quickly dismissed them. Tehran’s criminal court chief, Mohammad Shahriari, denied that any such bodies had been found and claimed that such events would be impossible to conceal from police and judicial systems. Daneshvar very soon retracted her statements, very likely having been silenced or threatened by authorities, claiming that the media had “misinterpreted her words”.

But media outlets like Bahar newspaper had already published her interview and widespread concern had already been sparked. Parents were urged to be vigilant and report it when their children went missing. But many of these children have no parents to offer any protection or care.

The Vulnerability and Exploitation of Children in Iran

Children from impoverished families, particularly those in addiction-stricken communities, are at the highest risk. Street children and those without parental protection are especially vulnerable, as they can easily fall prey to traffickers.

Undocumented Children: A Growing Crisis in Iran’s Marginalized Communities

The growing number of undocumented children in Iran, now over a million, also face severe risks. One major factor is a decades-old policy preventing Iranian women in mixed marriages from passing on their nationality to their children, condemning thousands of children to a future without access to education, healthcare, or recognition in national databases.

In 2018, Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtar, a member of Iran’s judiciary committee, was quoted in a Bahar article saying that organ trafficking was prevalent among families dealing with addiction, a crisis affecting many parts of the country.

Emerging Evidence: Children Trafficked for Organ Harvesting

Despite the Iranian authorities’ denials, disturbing reports continue to emerge. Social workers from the charity Mehr Afarin reported cases where children are reported to have disappeared while playing outside, never to be seen again. Videos and testimonies have surfaced, showing children being operated on while still alive, to have their organs removed for sale. These crimes often involve cross-border trafficking, with children being smuggled to countries like Turkey for organ sales. 

Ongoing Government Denial and Continued Exploitation of Children

The Iranian government continues to deny the extent of the crisis, dismissing reports as exaggerated or false. However, courageous whistleblowers continue to expose this horrendous tragedy.

Smuggling Networks: Children Transported for Organ Trafficking

Reports of children being smuggled out of Iran in tanker trucks destined for organ harvesting rings have surfaced, with some smuggling attempts intercepted at the border. No-one knows how many have crossed the border undetected.

Stories have emerged of street children waking in the morning in agonizing pain and a wound on their side – their organs were removed as they slept.

Even newborns are vulnerable, with the sale of babies to traffickers.

The Welfare Organization in Iran has confirmed that these children are sold for sexual exploitation and organ trafficking but many in power continue to deny it.

Iran’s Poverty and Addiction Crisis: A Driving Force Behind Child Trafficking

Iran’s devastating record of poverty and addiction leave children vulnerable to trafficking. Despite continued exposures, many traffickers operate with impunity.

How You Can Help: Supporting Efforts to End Child Organ Trafficking in Iran

There are no words to express the sheer evil of what is happening to the most vulnerable of Iran’s population today. It can be overwhelming for those of us who want to put an end to it.

How does one even begin? Prayer. Advocacy. Amplifying the voices of those crying out for help. Practical support through donations to those who are able to provide aid.

When the sheer scale of suffering is too much to fathom, you love the person before you. And then another. And then another.

At Transform Iran, we are committed to loving the people before us. Christians in our churches in Iran regularly look for street children, offering them meals, clothing, friendship, and the message of the gospel. We cannot change the whole landscape in one step,  but we have to start where we can.

In these difficult circumstances, there is an urgent need for Christian communities that can offer support, encouragement, and guidance.

Read about one of our outreach projects to children and their struggling families