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US/Israel: Investigate Iran School Attack as a War Crime
NEW YORK, March 7 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:* * *
US/Israel: Investigate Iran School Attack as a War Crime
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* A February 28, 2026 attack on a primary school in southern Iran was an unlawful attack that reportedly killed scores of civilians, including schoolchildren.
* The laws of war prohibit attacks if the anticipated harm to civilians and civilian objects is disproportionate compared to the expected military gain from the attack.
* The United States and Israel should immediately assess their responsibility for this attack and make the ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, March 7 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news: * * * US/Israel: Investigate Iran School Attack as a War Crime * * A February 28, 2026 attack on a primary school in southern Iran was an unlawful attack that reportedly killed scores of civilians, including schoolchildren. * The laws of war prohibit attacks if the anticipated harm to civilians and civilian objects is disproportionate compared to the expected military gain from the attack. * The United States and Israel should immediately assess their responsibility for this attack and make thefindings public. The responsible party should fully account for the civilian harm and hold those responsible accountable, including prosecuting anyone responsible for war crimes.
(Beirut, March 7, 2026) - An unlawful attack on a primary school in southern Iran before midday on February 28, 2026, that reportedly killed scores of civilians, including many children, should be investigated as a war crime, Human Rights Watch said today.
The attack was carried out among hundreds of strikes across Iran by Israeli and US forces on the morning of February 28. Neither the United States nor Israel has claimed responsibility for the attack, and an Israeli military spokesperson told Human Rights Watch that it was "not aware of any [Israeli military] strikes in the area." The Iranian government has blamed the US-Israeli coalition for the attack.
The Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in the town of Minab, Hormozgan province, is on the interior border of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Naval Forces compound. However, information Human Rights Watch reviewed shows that the school is walled off and has a separate entrance to the street from the rest of the compound.
The pattern of strikes in which distinct structures across the compound, including the school, were directly struck, as well as the entry points of the munitions visible on multiple buildings, indicate that the attack was carried out by highly accurate, guided munitions, rather than errant weapons whose guidance or propulsion systems failed or were otherwise disrupted and randomly struck the area.
"A prompt and thorough investigation is needed into this attack, including if those responsible should have known that a school was there and that it would be full of children and their teachers before midday," said Sophia Jones, open source researcher with the Digital Investigations Lab at Human Rights Watch. "Those responsible for an unlawful attack should be held to account, including prosecutions of anyone responsible for war crimes."
Human Rights Watch verified and analyzed 14 videos and photographs posted on social media that were recorded immediately after the strike or during search-and-rescue operations, as well as 4 from funerals. Researchers also reviewed about 40 publicly available satellite images captured over the past 25 years as well as satellite images obtained commercially that were captured after the attack, showing both the attack site and the nearby cemetery where victims were apparently buried. Researchers also reviewed statements by the Iranian Red Crescent Society and government officials from Iran, Israel, and the United States, and reports by independent media outlets outside Iran.
Due to the internet shutdown and communications restrictions imposed by Iran's authorities, Human Rights Watch was unable to safely speak with witnesses or family members of those killed in the strike, limiting researchers' ability to verify the precise number and identities of children and other individuals killed and other details related to the attack. However, researchers interviewed two sources who had spoken with witnesses and relatives of victims. Human Rights Watch is also investigating Iranian forces' strikes on targets in countries in the Middle East.
The exact nature of the different sections in the IRGC compound, the extent to which the facilities were in use for military purposes at the time of the attack, and what may have been stored there was not immediately apparent. If any of the facilities within the compound were used for military purposes, Iranian authorities would appear to have been placing civilians at unnecessary risk and therefore also would have been in violation of the laws of war.
Satellite imagery analysis shows that at least eight structures across the compound were directly struck by munitions, including at least one that struck and severely damaged the school, which was walled off from the rest of the compound.
Two videos filmed next to the school in the immediate aftermath of the attack and verified by researchers show black smoke billowing from the top of the school and part of its roof collapsed. In one video, white lines of a soccer pitch, a volleyball net, and brightly painted school walls are clearly visible, as are two smoke plumes from elsewhere on the compound. In the second video, people are gathered around the school, screaming. A third video verified by researchers shows a different angle of the compound, from the south, and plumes of smoke from at least a third location within that compound.
High-resolution satellite imagery reveals that, between February and September 2016, an inner wall was built that separates the school from the rest of the compound. Moreover, a separate entrance without a security post was created during that time frame, allowing street access to the school without having to enter the military compound. Two watchtowers, previously visible on satellite imagery and less than 50 meters from the school building, were also removed in 2016. The front of the school was cleared and marking lines of a soccer pitch were drawn in the courtyard by August 2017.
The compound also contains a medical clinic, under the auspices of the IRGC's Naval Forces. State media reported that it was inaugurated in January 2025 by Major General Hossein Salami, the then-commander-in-chief of the IRGC.
Low-resolution satellite imagery from March 2, 2026, shows at least seven other impact sites within the IRGC compound in addition to the school, including a clear impact on the medical clinic's roof. An analysis of very high-resolution satellite imagery captured on March 4 confirms that explosive weapons detonated in at least eight points, including five sites where damage is consistent with a munition entering the structures from the roof and detonating.
Damage to two other structures, as well as the relative distance between these and others attacked, indicate that both structures were most likely also directly attacked with explosive weapons, bringing the total number of impact sites most likely directly attacked to ten. The number of individual strikes and the apparent accuracy with which they struck individual structures across the base, observed in part through the relatively small circular holes that were points of entry for the munitions, indicate that the attack was carried out across a wide set of individual targets on the base with highly accurate, guided munitions.
The school's location within the IRGC Naval Force's compound did not, in and of itself, make the school a legitimate target. The school was in use, and children were in attendance on the day of the attack. Human Rights Watch found no evidence that would indicate that the school was being used for military purposes, though researchers were not able to speak to witnesses of the strikes, families of those killed, or other informed sources.
Even if the attackers were targeting a legitimate military target in the vicinity of the school, the laws of war prohibit attacks on military objectives if the anticipated harm to civilians and civilian objects is disproportionate compared to the expected military gain from the attack.
Both the US and Israeli militaries possess and have used advanced and expansive multi-domain intelligence collection methods in their conduct of many combat operations, which allow for enhanced monitoring, assessment and verification of targets.
Human Rights Watch wrote to the US and Israeli militaries on March 2 and to Iranian authorities on March 3. The Israeli military responded on March 3, writing: "After an initial examination[,] [t]he [Israeli military]is not aware of any [Israeli military] strikes in the area," and that "the incident is being examined." Neither the US military nor Iranian authorities have responded.
On March 4, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to a question in a media briefing about the attack on the school. "All I can say is that we're investigating that," he said. "We, of course, never target civilian targets, but we're taking a look and investigating that." During that briefing, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, said that US forces from the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group were providing "pressure" along the "southeastern side of the coast and has been attritting naval capability all along the strait," as he pointed to an area of a map that included Minab, where the map shows there had been US/Israeli strikes.
A thorough, independent investigation into the strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School should be conducted, including to determine whether war crimes were committed, Human Rights Watch said. War crimes are serious violations of the laws of war committed with criminal intent, that is deliberately or recklessly. Those responsible for any war crimes or other serious violations of the laws of war, including military and civilian commanders, should be held to account, while victims and their families should be appropriately compensated.
Schools and other educational facilities are civilian objects and protected from attack. They lose that protection when used for military purposes, although all parties must still comply with international humanitarian law including respecting the principle of proportionality and taking all feasible measures to minimize harm to civilians. The mere presence of military personnel in civilian infrastructure does not in itself automatically make such facilities as whole a legitimate military target. Human Rights Watch has seen no information to indicate that the Shajareh Tayyebeh school was used for military purposes.
Iranian authorities should ensure the protection of schools and other civilian infrastructure.
The United States should immediately assess its responsibility for this strike and make the findings public. If the US military carried out the strike, it should conduct a full investigation into the operational and policy failures that led it to strike a school, fully account for the civilian harm caused, hold those responsible accountable including through prosecution, and commit to changes that would ensure such failures will not be repeated in future operations.
"Allies of the US and Israel should insist on accountability for the Shajareh Tayyebeh school attack and for an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure in all of their operations across the region, before more civilians, including children, are unlawfully killed," Jones said.
For additional details, please see below.
The school and work week in Iran begin on Saturday morning. The first reports of the US and Israeli attacks in Iran surfaced online before 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 28. The Shajareh Tayyebeh school administration called parents to pick up their children, but "the time between the announcement of the school's closure and the moment of the explosion was extremely short; many families had not yet arrived," the Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers' Trade Associations said in a statement on March 1.
Satellite imagery from February 28 shows the school intact as of 10:23 a.m. The attack took place sometime before 11:47 a.m., when the first video of the attack surfaced on social media. Local media, citing Iranian officials, said the attack on the school took place around 10:45 a.m.
As of March 4, the death toll from this attack had risen to 168, Iranian state media reported. Human Rights Watch has not been able to independently verify that number. Researchers reviewed a list of 57 names announced by the Special Governor's Office of Minab County and circulated by news outlets on March 2. Of the names on that list, at least 48 appear to have been children, according to their birth dates on the list. Researchers analyzed this list of names, which included girls, boys, women, and men, and in some cases were able to immediately match names with other identifying information, such as photographs, caskets, body bags, or funerary materials with names, ages, names of family members, and whether they were identified as a student or teacher at the school. The list included the apparent principal of the school and several teachers.
Researchers identified an additional 25 names by reviewing a list published by Iran's Gymnastics Federation and names written on body bags, caskets, or funerary materials, as seen in photographs and videos published by state media between March 3 and 6. At least 15 of them appear to be children; researchers were unable to determine the ages of the remaining 10. Human Rights Watch was not able to immediately obtain information regarding the remaining individuals reported to have been killed or about people who may have been killed in strikes elsewhere on the compound.
Videos shared on social media on February 28 and analyzed by researchers show an ambulance arriving at the Hazrat Abolfazl hospital roughly two kilometers from the school. Other videos show 12 body bags lying on the ground, and photographs show the bodies of what appears to be 4 girls, their faces covered in dust, dressed in school uniforms lying in body bags. Another video analyzed by Human Rights Watch shows the body of a child with a head wound, who is wearing the same green checkered school uniform as a surviving boy seen in another video analyzed by researchers.
Additional verified photographs taken by Mehr News on February 28 and circulated by the Associated Press show men, including some in uniform, digging through the rubble of the school. At least one body buried in the rubble is visible in these photographs.
On March 2, a video published by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) shows graves being dug at the Minab Hermud cemetery in preparation for funerals on March 3. Aerial imagery of the cemetery published on March 2 shows at least 100 new grave locations, 83 of them being dug with the use of heavy machinery. Ground preparation for the burials within the same cemetery plot seen in the photos and videos began in the afternoon of March 1, according to satellite imagery analyzed by Human Rights Watch.
Photographs published from the funerals on March 3 show crowds of people at the cemetery standing next to the graves. Fourteen caskets had been placed into the graves, while others were empty in one photograph. Human Rights Watch was unable to verify whether all 100 graves were used for people killed in the attack on the school. According to reports online, at least two people's funerals took place elsewhere outside of Minab.
Further Analysis of Structures in the IRGC Compound and Strike Impacts
In addition to the unguarded entrance from the street to the school, which was walled off from the rest of the compound, at least seven other entrances to different parts of the compound can be seen on satellite imagery from February 19. An undated photograph shows a sign at a southern entrance on the main road that reads "Seyyed Al-Shohada Cultural and Educational Complex" alongside an IRGC logo.
Sixty meters north, at another entrance on the main road, a photograph uploaded to Google Maps in February shows a sign for the "Shaheed Absalan Specialist Clinic, the Health Commandment of the IRGC's Naval Force." Human Rights Watch also geolocated a picture published in 2025 showing the facade of the clinic. At the main entrance of the complex, an undated photograph shows a sign with the IRGC logo and the word for "barracks" or "unit."
Analysis of images taken over the last 25 years shows structural changes within the military compound itself, including the construction of additional inner walls that separate different areas within the compound between 2022 and 2024. As a result, additional separate gates to access the different sections of the compound were constructed between 2022 to 2025.
Low-resolution satellite imagery from March 2, 2026, shows at least seven other impact sites within the IRGC compound, in addition to the school, including a clear impact on the rooftop of the Shaheed Absalan clinic. The buildings all appeared intact on satellite imagery captured at 10:23 a.m. on February 28. A very high-resolution satellite image from March 4 shows at least eight areas that were directly struck. Five buildings, including the school and the medical clinic, show damage consistent with a large munition striking and entering the roof before detonating. Four other buildings are completely destroyed, indicating they were also directly struck by a munition with a large high-explosive yield. Two of the buildings are immediately adjacent to one another, indicating that they were struck by at least one munition.
Two other buildings on the compound exhibit fire damage. Due to the relative distance between them and the nearby structures that were also struck, it is likely that the fire damage is the result of these buildings also being individually struck by explosive weapons, bringing the total number of buildings most likely directly attacked to 10. In all, 14 buildings across the site were damaged, nearly all of the structures within the compound.
Further Legal Background
The laws of war obligate warring parties to take constant care to spare the civilian population. All feasible precautions must be taken to avoid, and in any event to minimize, incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects. Unless circumstances do not permit, warring parties should give "effective advance warning" of attacks that may affect the civilian population. Human Rights Watch is not aware of any warning having been given in advance of the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school.
The laws of war also obligate warring parties to avoid locating military targets near densely populated areas.
Serious violations of the laws of war carried out by individuals with criminal intent-that is, deliberately or recklessly -are war crimes. A combatant or commander may have acted recklessly when they consciously disregard a substantial and unjustifiable risk of causing prohibited harm-such as death or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects-during an armed conflict.
Investigations into the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school should consider whether those responsible acted recklessly, including if they should have known that they were attacking a school, and that an attack during the middle of the day on a school day would have most likely resulted in a large number of civilian casualties.
Individuals may also be held criminally liable for assisting in, facilitating, aiding, or abetting a war crime. Civilian and military commanders may be held criminally liable for war crimes committed by their subordinates that they knew or should have known about and failed to take reasonable measures to prevent the crimes or submit the matter to the competent authorities for investigation and prosecution. All state parties to an armed conflict are obligated to investigate alleged war crimes by members of their armed forces.
Further Context on Access to Information in Iran
On February 28, 2026, internet traffic dropped significantly in Iran, indicating a nationwide blackout following strikes across the country by the United States and Israel. Cloudflare Radar, a network measurement platform that provides real-time information on internet traffic, said that internet traffic dropped by 98 percent, signaling a near-complete blackout. Iranian authorities have a track record of imposing internet disruptions and shutdowns during times of conflict and crisis, including during protest crackdowns, to restrict access to information, conceal atrocities they commit, and obstruct independent documentation of violations.
United Nations member states should urge Iranian authorities to restore internet access, which has been shut down since the start of US and Israeli forces' attacks on February 28. The near-total internet shutdown across the country severely restricts access to information, including evacuation orders and safety measures, which can be lifesaving. International policymakers and companies should also support the provision of internet services for the civilian population affected by internet shutdowns, including by building out satellite communication services.
Further Context on the United States and the US and Israeli Attacks on Iran
During a March 2 press briefing on military operations in Iran, Gen. Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the preparations for the overall attacks were extensive. He added that "[o]n the U.S. side, this marked the culmination of months, and in some cases, years of deliberate planning and refinement against this particular target set." Caine emphasized that this preparation spanned across multiple aspects of the US operations "[f]rom precision strikes against key military infrastructure, to persistent intelligence and targeting integration, to the close coordination of the components across vast distances." The Israeli military stated on February 28, as strikes were ongoing in Iran, that the attacks were based on "precise intelligence," and has since continued to assert that the attacks are intelligence -based.
Human Rights Watch is concerned that under the second Trump administration, the Defense Department has deliberately and systematically weakened its domestic protections meant to ensure its compliance with the laws of armed conflict. Those include the termination of senior military lawyers, reported loosening of targeting protocols, and the elimination of "civilian environment teams" and "red-teams" within the operational chain of command. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth commented at a news conference on March 2, 2026, about "stupid rules of engagement," suggesting that they may interfere with "fight[ing] to win." The US Congress should hold hearings to understand how and if these rollbacks contributed to any civilian harm verified to be caused by the US military in Iran.
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/03/07/us/israel-investigate-iran-school-attack-as-a-war-crime
Protect Our Care: Shocking Job Loss - 28,000 Health Care Jobs Vanish in February in the Wake of the GOP Cuts to Health Care to Give Tax Breaks to Billionaires
WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news on March 6, 2026:* * *
Shocking Job Loss: 28,000 Health Care Jobs Vanish in February in the Wake of the GOP Cuts to Health Care to Give Tax Breaks to Billionaires
Researchers Estimate 150,000+ Jobs Will Be Eliminated in 2026 Due to Republican Lawmakers Ripping Away Health Care Tax Credits Alone
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Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a dismal jobs report concluding that the U.S. economy lost over 92,000 jobs in February, including 28,000 jobs in health care, and unemployment has ticked up to 4.4 percent. Health care ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Protect Our Care issued the following news on March 6, 2026: * * * Shocking Job Loss: 28,000 Health Care Jobs Vanish in February in the Wake of the GOP Cuts to Health Care to Give Tax Breaks to Billionaires Researchers Estimate 150,000+ Jobs Will Be Eliminated in 2026 Due to Republican Lawmakers Ripping Away Health Care Tax Credits Alone * Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued a dismal jobs report concluding that the U.S. economy lost over 92,000 jobs in February, including 28,000 jobs in health care, and unemployment has ticked up to 4.4 percent. Health carehas been the lifeblood of the U.S. labor market but over 750 hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and other critical providers have closed, are at risk of closing, or have cut essential services since Trump and Republicans in Congress gutted $1 trillion from Medicaid to bankroll tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. Expectant mothers are forced to travel further to get to the nearest maternity ward. Cancer patients are paying for travel and overnight stays in major cities to get the treatment they need to survive. Patients are traveling hundreds of miles to get to an emergency room. On top of that, essential workers such as doctors, nurses, and physical therapists in communities across America are losing their jobs. Over 150,000 jobs are estimated to be lost this year due to Republicans eliminating tax credits for working families alone. As GOP cuts hit communities nationwide, Protect Our Care is tracking the impact. Here are some of the layoffs Protect Our Care's Hospital Crisis Watch tracked this February:
Crain's New York Business: Safety-Net One Brooklyn Health Lays Off More Than 50 Workers
* "'While the financial pressures facing safety-net hospitals across New York and the country are very real and now at our doorstep, this decision was ultimately driven by a forward-looking evaluation of [One Brooklyn Health's] internal operations and the need to make responsible, data-informed changes in support of our mission,' the spokesperson said."
WGGB: Baystate Announces Elimination of Over 100 Positions
* "While Duggan said Baystate has made efforts to create 'greater financial stability and resilience for our health system' and the health system meeting budget expectations last year for the first time in six years, they are facing 'increasing headwinds' with a 'large and growing demand for care by individuals with government payors (Medicare and Medicaid).'"
* "In addition, she noted that supplies, drugs, technology, and other essential services all continue to see price increases and new financial pressures are coming with the 'expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, cuts to Medicaid funding, eligibility, enrollment, and provider rates, shortfalls with the state's Healthcare Safety Net (HSN) fund, and other reimbursement barriers.'"
Becker's Hospital Review: Peacehealth to Lay Off 94, Including Nurses
* "PeaceHealth said it 'is in a period of transformation' and has made 'the difficult decision to reduce roles systemwide.' 'This necessary realignment reflects the changing needs of our growing communities, ongoing financial pressures to reduce costs and our commitment to advancing the health and well-being of those we serve,' the health system said in a statement."
CT Insider: Bloomfield-Based Health Care Giant Cigna Plans to Lay Off 2,000 Employees Worldwide
* "The Cigna Group, one of the world's largest health insurers and pharmacy-benefit managers, has confirmed that it plans to lay off approximately 2,000 employees."
KCRG: MercyOne Announces More Layoffs in Mason City
* "This is the third round of MercyOne layoffs in Iowa in the past few weeks. In mid-January, the company announced that 40 people will be laid off when their Ottumwa clinic closes on February 27. Then just last week, a listing on Iowa WARN showed that Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines will lay off 67 workers."
Houston Chronicle: Memorial Hermann Offers Voluntary Buyouts Amid Financial Pressures Tied to ACA and Medicaid Changes
* "Memorial Hermann Health System is offering buyouts to employees amid growing financial and operating pressures, which it attributed to the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies, changes to Medicaid funding and other factors, the health system said Friday."
Buffalo-Toronto Public Media: Medicaid Cuts Fuel Layoffs
* "In Buffalo, Erie County Medical Center plans to layoff roughly 150 workers. The hospital says they need to do this in part because of cuts to Medicaid. A national expert we talked to says this is the tough reality safety-net hospitals, like ECMC who serve many people with little or no insurance, are facing. However, cutting what could include clerical staff can create other challenges for hospitals already struggling to get paid by the government through Medicaid."
Becker's Hospital Review: Hennepin to Cut 100 Jobs Amid Service Line Restructuring
* "Minneapolis-based Hennepin Healthcare is making service line changes that will result in the elimination of about 100 positions, citing a broader effort to stabilize its finances and protect core clinical services."
* "The changes come as the health system works to identify at least $50 million in savings during the first quarter of 2026."
Daily Journal: Johnson Memorial Health to Close Maternity Unit, Cut About 48 Jobs
* "Johnson Memorial Health announced Friday that it is phasing out its obstetrics services and closing its Maternity Care Center due to budgetary constraints. More and more hospitals of JMH's size are having to scale back on services due to an increasingly difficult financial landscape -- the Franklin hospital becomes the 16th Indiana facility to close its maternity wards since 2020."
* "The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025 only exacerbates the issue, as Indiana will see more Medicaid cuts moving forward -- a projected $12.7 billion throughout the state."
* "The state of Indiana has attempted to leverage federal dollars to increase Medicaid reimbursement for several Indiana hospitals, but that plan was not approved by (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)," Dunkle said. "That was probably the last straw for us."
Buffalo Business First: Buffalo General Cuts Rehab Unit in Half, Eliminating 22 Jobs
* "The shift comes as Kaleida continues to implement a $200 million strategic plan designed to strengthen long-term sustainability."
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Original text here: https://www.protectourcare.org/shocking-job-loss-28000-health-care-jobs-vanish-in-february-in-the-wake-of-the-gop-cuts-to-health-care-to-give-tax-breaks-to-billionaires/
[Category: Health Care]
PHR Demands Protection for Medical Workers and Facilities Amid Middle East Escalation
NEW YORK, March 7 -- Physicians for Human Rights issued the following news release:* * *
PHR Demands Protection for Medical Workers and Facilities Amid Middle East Escalation
All parties are obliged to respect the sanctity of healthcare during conflict
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As the military conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States escalates and spreads across the Middle East, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) calls on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including by protecting medical personnel and health facilities from attack and ensuring ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, March 7 -- Physicians for Human Rights issued the following news release: * * * PHR Demands Protection for Medical Workers and Facilities Amid Middle East Escalation All parties are obliged to respect the sanctity of healthcare during conflict * As the military conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States escalates and spreads across the Middle East, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) calls on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including by protecting medical personnel and health facilities from attack and ensuringhealth care can function unimpeded.
"We are hearing alarming reports of health care workers and facilities harmed amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Hospitals, medical staff, and the wounded must be protected as guaranteed by international humanitarian law. This is not a gray area: all states involved in this conflict have accepted the Geneva Conventions, which require protection for health care workers and facilities in times of war," said Sam Zarifi, JD, LLM, PHR executive director.
The United States and Israel have been striking Iran since February 28, causing widespread damage across the country. Iran has responded with an ongoing campaign of indiscriminate rocket and drone attacks across the region. The attacks by all sides are killing and injuring civilians and damaging health care infrastructure. In Iran, damage to health facilities from U.S. and Israeli attacks includes Gandhi Hospital and an Iranian Red Crescent facility near Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital, both in Tehran. In Lebanon, three paramedics were killed, and six injured while responding to Israeli strikes launched in retaliation for Hezbollah rockets. At a briefing on Thursday, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director general, said it had verified 13 attacks on health care in Iran and one in Lebanon.
"From Syria and Ukraine to Gaza, PHR has been documenting a steady deterioration in respect for the sanctity of hospitals and medical personnel in times of conflict. This disregard for civilians' right to health care violates not only global norms but also binding international law. What is essential now is unimpeded access to health care for all, full protection for health care workers and facilities, and genuine accountability for these violations," said Zarifi.
"Iran's violent crackdown on protesters in January demonstrated a total disregard for the sanctity of health care. Authorities attacked hospitals and medical staff. They attempted to turn the country's health care infrastructure from a public good into an instrument of state security and punishment," Zarifi added. "And now, while struggling to recover from the bloodiest violence since at least the 1979 Revolution, Iran's health care system is facing incredible new strains as facilities are once again being damaged and civilian injuries mount."
International humanitarian law (IHL) is clear. It requires parties to a conflict to respect and protect hospitals, healthcare facilities, and medical personnel, and to refrain from directing attacks against medical units. All parties must adhere to these obligations and take all feasible precautions to spare medical infrastructure from the effects of hostilities. Further, parties must ensure the safe and uninterrupted provision of healthcare to civilians, consistent with their obligations under international human rights law, including the right to health.
The conflict in the Middle East has also severely disrupted civilian access to basic health care, blocking the movement of medical supplies and interrupting patient care across the region. In Gaza, the closure of the Rafah border crossing has stranded more than 18,000 patients awaiting medical evacuation, including 4,000 children. In Dubai, the WHO's largest logistics hub has suspended operations due to insecurity and supply chain disruptions, leaving $18 million in medical supplies stranded, including polio diagnostics, medicines for chronic diseases, and emergency kits for countries in conflict.
"When a hospital is destroyed, or a health worker killed, the ripple effects are severe, including untreated wounds, preventable deaths, and collapsed health systems that can devastate communities for years. These attacks violate international law and cause harm that extends far beyond the immediate casualties. PHR calls on all parties to uphold their obligations and immediately cease all attacks on health care," concluded Zarifi.
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Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a New York-based advocacy organization that uses science and medicine to prevent mass atrocities and severe human rights violations. Learn more here.
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Original text here: https://phr.org/news/phr-demands-protection-for-medical-workers-and-facilities-amid-middle-east-escalation/
[Category: Political]
Demand Progress Lauds Biggs Bill to Curb Federal Surveillance Powers
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, March 7 -- Demand Progress issued the following news release on March 6, 2026:* * *
Demand Progress Lauds Biggs Bill to Curb Federal Surveillance Powers
Washington, D.C. -- On Thursday, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act, a bill to curb invasive government surveillance. The bill closes loopholes that allow the government to sweep up the private texts, emails and calls of people in the United States without court approval. The government's sweeping spying authority, also known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence ... Show Full Article SILVER SPRING, Maryland, March 7 -- Demand Progress issued the following news release on March 6, 2026: * * * Demand Progress Lauds Biggs Bill to Curb Federal Surveillance Powers Washington, D.C. -- On Thursday, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced the Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act, a bill to curb invasive government surveillance. The bill closes loopholes that allow the government to sweep up the private texts, emails and calls of people in the United States without court approval. The government's sweeping spying authority, also known as Section 702 of the Foreign IntelligenceSurveillance Act, is set to expire next month on April 20 if Congress does not reauthorize it. Demand Progress has been leading a bipartisan coalition to reform Section 702 under both Democratic and Republican presidents.
The following is a statement from Demand Progress Senior Policy Advisor Hajar Hammado:
"Not enough people realize that the government has the power to hoover up your private calls, texts and emails without any court approval. The Protect Liberty and End Warrantless Surveillance Act is a necessary bill that closes the loopholes allowing the government to conduct this dangerous, invasive spying. We thank Rep. Biggs for his committed, bipartisan leadership to fix this serious threat to our privacy. Congress must follow his lead and support critical reforms that would stop the government from buying our sensitive information from data brokers and warrantlessly surveilling us."
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Original text here: https://demandprogress.org/demand-progress-lauds-biggs-bill-to-curb-federal-surveillance-powers/
[Category: Sociological]
Conservative Groups Launch Key District Tour to Promote Tax Cuts Ahead of Tax Day
ADDISON, Texas, March 7 -- Job Creators Network posted the following news release on March 6, 2026:* * *
Conservative Groups Launch Key District Tour to Promote Tax Cuts Ahead of Tax Day
Americans for Prosperity, Job Creators Network, and Americans for Tax Reform Join Members of Congress at Local Events to Share Benefits of Working Families Tax Cut
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(WASHINGTON): Today, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), Job Creators Network (JCN), and Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) announced a series of local events ahead of Tax Day in key congressional races promoting the Working Families Tax Cut.
The tour ... Show Full Article ADDISON, Texas, March 7 -- Job Creators Network posted the following news release on March 6, 2026: * * * Conservative Groups Launch Key District Tour to Promote Tax Cuts Ahead of Tax Day Americans for Prosperity, Job Creators Network, and Americans for Tax Reform Join Members of Congress at Local Events to Share Benefits of Working Families Tax Cut * (WASHINGTON): Today, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), Job Creators Network (JCN), and Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) announced a series of local events ahead of Tax Day in key congressional races promoting the Working Families Tax Cut. The tourwill occur in six of the nation's most competitive congressional districts and feature Members of Congress, local small business owners, community leaders, and voters. The events will allow these stakeholders to discuss their tax savings and the positive impact on their districts, including small-business expansion, job creation, wage increases, and economic activity. These will be free events, open to the public and media.
Specific district events include:
* Alaska (at-large) - Rep. Nick Begich
* Virginia (1st) - Rep. Rob Wittman
* Iowa (1st) - Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks
* Michigan (7th) - Rep. Tom Barrett
* Pennsylvania (10th) - Rep. Scott Perry
* Colorado (8th) - Rep. Gabe Evans
These events will occur in the weeks before Tax Day on April 15. Specific dates, site locations, and times to come.
"Republican tax cuts are a gamechanger for Main Street," said Alfredo Ortiz, CEO of JCN. "Restored 100% immediate expensing, a permanent 20% small business tax deduction, and locked-in lower rates are allowing entrepreneurs to expand, hire, and raise wages. This tour will help bring much-needed attention to these tax cut savings stories and share credit with the Members of Congress who made them a reality."
"Hardworking families and small businesses across this country are feeling the impact of pro-growth tax relief, and we intend to make sure their voices are heard," said Katelyn Bledsoe, Managing Director of External Affairs for Americans for Prosperity. "The Working Families Tax Cut is helping workers keep more of their paychecks, giving small businesses the certainty they need to invest and hire, and strengthening local economies in communities across the country. As Tax Day approaches, this tour is about highlighting real stories from real Americans whose lives have improved because lawmakers chose growth over government. We're proud to stand alongside our partners and Members of Congress to ensure these policies remain in place so families and job creators can continue to thrive."
"The Working Families Tax Cut delivered on President Trump's promise of permanent, across the board, pro-growth tax relief for American households and businesses, said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. As the provisions of the tax bill begin taking effect, Americans for Tax reform is dedicated to highlighting the examples of pay raises, job creation, facility and product line expansions, special bonuses and employee benefits increases attributed to these historic tax cuts. ATR is proud to work with its allies on this tour to highlight the real stories of families and businesses benefitting from the Republican tax cuts."
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Original text here: https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/press_releases/conservative-groups-launch-key-district-tour-to-promote-tax-cuts-ahead-of-tax-day/
[Category: Human Resources/Personnel]
CAIR-Texas, CAIR Action Texas Fact Check Texas Legislature's 'Anti-Sharia' Caucus
WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 6, 2026:* * *
CAIR-Texas, CAIR Action Texas Fact Check Texas Legislature's 'Anti-Sharia' Caucus
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Texas (CAIR-Texas) and CAIR Action Texas today condemned the creation of a so-called "anti-Sharia" caucus in the Texas Legislature, saying it is rooted not in reality, but in misinformation and fear that unfairly targets Muslim Texans.
CAIR recently designated the congressional "Sharia-Free America Caucus" an anti-Muslim hate group because of its promotion ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on March 6, 2026: * * * CAIR-Texas, CAIR Action Texas Fact Check Texas Legislature's 'Anti-Sharia' Caucus The Council on American-Islamic Relations Texas (CAIR-Texas) and CAIR Action Texas today condemned the creation of a so-called "anti-Sharia" caucus in the Texas Legislature, saying it is rooted not in reality, but in misinformation and fear that unfairly targets Muslim Texans. CAIR recently designated the congressional "Sharia-Free America Caucus" an anti-Muslim hate group because of its promotionof conspiracy theories about Islam and American Muslims. Efforts to replicate similar rhetoric in the Texas Legislature rely on the same false narratives that stigmatize an entire faith community.
SEE: CAIR Designates House's 'Sharia Free Caucus' an Anti-Muslim Hate Group (https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-designates-houses-sharia-free-caucus-an-anti-muslim-hate-group/)
In a statement, CAIR-Texas and CAIR Action Texas said:
"Let's do a fact check.
Is Sharia law replacing the Texas Constitution? Absolutely not.
The United States and Texas Constitutions are the law of the land, and no religious tradition can override them. Claims that Muslims are seeking to replace American law with religious law are baseless and have been repeatedly debunked.
For Muslims, Sharia refers to personal religious guidance similar to how kosher laws guide Jewish practice or church teachings guide Christian practice. It shapes personal choices about prayer, charity, ethics, and family life. It is about faith and personal conduct, not replacing American law or governing institutions.
Islam also calls on believers to stand firmly against oppression. Muslims are taught to oppose oppression and defend the rights of women, children, and minorities, values that resonate with the fundamental principles of justice and equality shared by all Texans.
Yet instead of acknowledging the contributions of Muslim Texans, some elected officials continue to promote manufactured fears. Muslim Texans are not a threat. They are doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, first responders, and public servants who strengthen communities across our state.
If lawmakers are concerned about religion influencing our laws, Texans deserve to know why only one religion is being singled out for suspicion and political theater.
Texans expect their leaders to focus on the real challenges facing our state, such as improving schools, strengthening our economy, expanding access to healthcare, and protecting civil liberties, not creating divisive initiatives that target religious minorities.
CAIR-Texas and CAIR Action Texas will continue to defend the civil rights and religious freedom of all Texans and encourage our elected leaders to do the same."
CAIR Texas is an affiliate of CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil rights organization and 501 (c)(3) non-profit. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
CAIR Action Texas is an affiliate of CAIR Action, a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization dedicated to engaging, educating, and mobilizing Muslim voters, training emerging leaders, and advancing policy priorities that improve community well-being and representation.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-texas-cair-action-texas-fact-check-texas-legislatures-anti-sharia-caucus/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR-NC, MAPAC, Charlotte Muslim Caucus Host Iftar at NC Executive Mansion Honoring Imams, Highlighting Muslim NC Legacy and Calling for Protection of Civil Rights, Free Speech
WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:* * *
CAIR-NC, MAPAC, Charlotte Muslim Caucus Host Iftar at NC Executive Mansion Honoring Imams, Highlighting Muslim NC Legacy and Calling for Protection of Civil Rights, Free Speech
The North Carolina office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NC) hosted an iftar (breaking of the daily fast in Ramadan), with contributions by the Muslim American Public Affairs Council (MAPAC), and the Charlotte Muslim Caucus, at the historic North Carolina Executive Mansion on Wednesday evening, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, March 7 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release: * * * CAIR-NC, MAPAC, Charlotte Muslim Caucus Host Iftar at NC Executive Mansion Honoring Imams, Highlighting Muslim NC Legacy and Calling for Protection of Civil Rights, Free Speech The North Carolina office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NC) hosted an iftar (breaking of the daily fast in Ramadan), with contributions by the Muslim American Public Affairs Council (MAPAC), and the Charlotte Muslim Caucus, at the historic North Carolina Executive Mansion on Wednesday evening,bringing together Governor Josh Stein and Muslim leaders from across the state for an Imam Appreciation Iftar during the holy month of Ramadan.
The gathering centered both bridge-building with state government and candid civil-rights advocacy on issues impacting Muslim North Carolinians, including Islamophobia, First Amendment protections, and the humanitarian crises devastating communities abroad.
Leaders at the iftar underscored the breadth of Muslim civic life in North Carolina, from faith-based service initiatives to growing civic engagement. Speakers noted increasing public recognition of Ramadan by government bodies, including Governor Stein's statewide Ramadan proclamation, as well as local proclamations and public acknowledgments in communities across North Carolina.
At the Executive Mansion, community members also lifted up the Muslim North Carolinian experience as one of resilience and public service amid discrimination that persists in schools, workplaces, public spaces, and places of detention. Participants raised concerns about bullying and harassment, religious accommodation challenges for incarcerated Muslims, and incidents of discrimination targeting Muslim women, while emphasizing that Muslim North Carolinians continue to serve the public, organize for justice, and build institutions that strengthen the state.
CAIR-NC Manager Al Rieder delivered remarks honoring imams statewide and highlighting the deep roots of Islam and Muslims in North Carolina--connecting the community's present-day contributions to historic figures such as Omar Ibn Said, twentieth-century pioneers such as Imam Kenneth Muhammad and Sister Margaret Murray Muhammad, and generations of students and families who built enduring institutions across the state. Rieder also called on the Governor's office to establish ongoing dialogue with Muslim civic and faith leadership, emphasizing that engagement should be sustained and consultative- especially when urgent issues impacting the community arise.
Rieder further shared the story of Mohammad Issam of Wilmington, describing the devastating loss of his family members in Gaza, including the inspiring story of one of his family members named Hamid, who dedicated his life to service in his community. This urged moral clarity and meaningful action in response to mass civilian suffering. Rieder stated that North Carolina Muslims are united in describing what has unfolded as a genocide, while emphasizing the human impact on grieving North Carolinian families.
Nigel Edwards(MAPAC) of Durham, expressed gratitude for advocacy supporting western North Carolinians affected by Hurricane Helene, including congregants of the Islamic Center of Asheville, while urging the Governor to help protect constitutionally protected advocacy and speech. Edwards called for reforms related to the SHALOM Act and for addressing state policies impacting entrepreneurs and public participation, warning against definitions or frameworks that could chill lawful political expression.
Dr. Hadia Mubarak(Charlotte Muslim Caucus) of Charlotte invoked the example of Muhammad Ali's moral courage in opposing war and warned against the weaponization of state power to punish dissent. She urged renewed commitment to justice, equal human dignity, and solidarity with oppressed communities at home and abroad.
Imam Fleming El-Amin of Winston-Salem expressed gratitude to all of the imams across the state, who came in from as far away as Asheville and Wilmington. He stated thanks to the imams for their community service and personal sacrifices, which may sometimes go unrecognized.
Imam Ali Hida of Alnoor Islamic Center in Fuquay Varina and the North Raleigh Masjid, provided the Quran recitation and English meaning translations for the evening.
Speakers and attendees also voiced concern about rising Islamophobia, the suppression of First Amendment rights, and the fear experienced by immigrant communities amid heightened enforcement. Participants urged state leaders to protect sacred and public spaces (especially schools and houses of worship) from intimidation, and to support policies that safeguard civil liberties and religious freedom for all North Carolinians.
"Ramadan is a time of reflection, gratitude, and community, but it is also a time when we recommit ourselves to justice," said Al Rieder, Manager of CAIR-NC. "We are grateful for the opportunity to gather in the people's house, honor our imams, and speak with honesty and respect about what our community is carrying- from Islamophobia here at home to the grief of families with loved ones under bombardment abroad."
CAIR-NC emphasized that the goal of the evening was constructive engagement paired with clear, principled advocacy, ensuring that relationships with public institutions reflect the independent voice and needs of North Carolina's Muslim community, and that future engagement is rooted in consultation, accountability, and sustained dialogue.
CAIR- NC hopes that this Iftar will serve as an annual invitation to bring Muslim voices to the people's house, partake in their joy, and honor their grief through active policy change and engagement. We implore our state's lawmakers, including Governor Stein to ensure that ICE isn't allowed in our state and never in our places of worship, to pushback against Islamophobia from the classroom to the jail cell, and to protect and preserve Freedom of Speech in our great state so that advocates are not penalized for speaking up against the genocidal actions of foreign governments. The time is now to stand with our community as it faces attacks from our presidential administration and here on the local level.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-nc-mapac-charlotte-muslim-caucus-host-iftar-at-nc-executive-mansion-honoring-imams-highlighting-muslim-nc-legacy-and-calling-for-protection-of-civil-rights-free-speech/
[Category: Sociological]