A fine art exhibition titled 'Bombs for Peace' was held last week at a church in Melbourne, organized by the Iranian Women's Association in Sydney (BIWA). The event was hosted by the Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament (CICD) and the Church of the Unitarian Universalist Memorial in Melbourne.
The Saturday service at the church began with a memorial for the child victims of the Minab school attack and a condemnation of acts that the organizers described as atrocities committed by the United States and Israel in West Asia.
The keynote speaker, Australian anti-war activist John Shipton, presented what he termed a long-standing trend of military and political intervention by the US and Israel. He referenced events dating back to the Nakba of 1948 and the overthrow of Iran's democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953, up to recent conflicts in West Asia.
Shipton also drew parallels between these historical events and the tragedy at Minab school, where, according to the organizers, over 168 students, teachers, and staff died.
For her part, BIWA President Masoumeh Alaybakhsh spoke about the start of the new academic year in Iran and the resumption of schooling. She presented statistics on losses among students and teachers in recent conflicts, as well as information on damaged educational institutions.
Alaybakhsh expressed hope that such tragedies would not be repeated and emphasized the necessity of holding accountable those who attack civilian populations and educational facilities, in accordance with international law.
The event continued with a tour of the exhibition and a screening of the documentary film 'Minab: Independent Investigation,' directed by Mariam Sadr. The film explores the circumstances of the attack on Minab school and presents documents and other evidence concerning Shajarah Tayebeh Schools, which operated exclusively as an educational institution for over ten years.
Following the screening, there was a live discussion with Sadr, who shared her personal experience visiting the Minab school site and interviewing families of deceased students. The documentary created a somber atmosphere among the audience, while visitors of various nationalities and backgrounds expressed solidarity with families affected by recent conflicts, especially children. Many also expressed hope for long-term peace and security worldwide.
The exhibition was divided into two main sections dedicated to Iran and Palestine. The section on Iran featured works by Iranian-Australian artists, drawings by Iranian children who survived the war, and pieces by students from Minab school who died in the attack. Particular attention was drawn to portraits of the victims and their schoolwork, including classroom drawings and free illustrations reflecting their interests and aspirations.
The section on Palestine was presented by the Iranian Friends of Palestine NSW (IFOPNSW) and contained artworks depicting suffering in Gaza and Palestine. This section included works by Palestinian artists living in Gaza, as well as Australian and Palestinian artists based in Australia.
The organizers expressed hope that such events, held in communities and cities across Australia, would help raise awareness about the consequences of recent conflicts in West Asia and keep the memory alive of children who died or were affected by wars.