Debunking the “plastic keys” myth.

Keys to heaven being a Christian myth is what always struck me, too. That and the insane versions of this story such as Iranian children given the key being ordered to clear minefields.

I also grew up hearing this and immediately called BS. Not one specimen or even photo of these alleged millions of keys. My theory is that soldiers were gifted the prayer book 'Mafātīḥ al-Jinān' (lit. Keys to the Heavens) and some idiot heard about this and took it literally.

I hate BS like this because Iran–Iraq War, the Iranian govts role in it, and how they sent child soldiers out to die would be as atrocious either way Also…it's completely true they told soldiers of all ages that they'd die as martyrs and go to heaven—so why the need for the BS?

"To bolster their courage, their commander gave them each a golden plastic key said to open the door to paradise." - Pierre Razoux, Historian and author of Iran-Iraq War (p. 346). Your uncle isn't the oracle. Do your research. History isn't a game of anecdotes.

I haven't seen a single sane artist who painted in that unique "garbage de liberale" style.

Thank you for discrediting that cringeworthy novel.

They were indeed given actual keys, that's actually witnessed by Iraqi veterans which are people I personally know. I'm not saying this because I hate Iran or Iranians, I respect them and the government, but the first generation of the Islamic Republic had indeed such practices.

Trying to whitewash the mullahs' barbarism? Those plastic keys sent thousands of children into minefields while the clerics stayed safe. Calling it a myth is pure regime-washing. We will never forget the slaughter of Iran's youth. History is coming for you. #IranRevolution2026

somebody wrote about "indigenous orientalism" gosh who was it? ... oh yeah! Seyed Mohammad Marandi

I am so grateful to you for this video. Thank you so much. I was first told this by Nader Talabzadeh. I met him one day, and he spent a few hours going through all the crap I had heard from everyone I knew growing up in America. He explained to me the stories behind these myths. I am forever grateful for his time. Now yours. Here is this film, The Messiah- an Islamic account of Jesus-what he thought was a culmination, at the time he was working on this, of his life's work that he was so proud of:

VERY IMPORTANT!!! The Artesh and Basij/Sepah are different things!!! The Army didn't use child soldiers!

Wow, this hit hard as I was pushed into believing this garbage in my teenage years. Thank you.

Thank you, you exposed this shit propagandist

More subliminally the purpose of myths like these is to tell western audiences “they don’t value their lives, so you don’t have to either.” It’s why so much anti Muslim propaganda in the 2000s focused on the idea of 72 virgins. It’s ok if we kill people who want to die.

The key claim pre-dates Satrapi's comic. I knew an Iranian guy who was in Iran's special forces during the Iran-Iraq War. He confirmed Iran using children to set off mines, but no mention of keys. Met an Afghan refugee who heard the Iran key claim in Afghanistan in the 90s.

For all the children who were kidnapped while playing soccer after school to join the war. Lord, hear my prayers. Jesus, protect the ones who are doing Your holy work. Free the children of Cyrus from that prison of agony and pain. You are my safety and shelter. Amen.

Pretty relevant read.

The keys did exist, I have heard it from my family who are Iran-Iraq war. It was not plastic

You’re a troll. Cosplaying as a 14th century mystic poet, and you have the audacity to mock real Iranians?

You’re a click-bait influencer and nothing more. It just occurred to me.

The children were indoctrinated and used to detonate bombs. They were told they would go straight to heaven. Its evil with or without the keys. Thos documentary features interviews with child soldiers at the time and former child soldiers.

so you, the Persian culture expert and explainer, are telling me that the Arabic phrase Mafatih al-Jinan has no cultural significance in Iran? Or that child soldiers *weren't* used as cannon fodder during that war?

"Debunking" the mullahs' bloodlust? Whether it was physical keys or brutal brainwashing, thousands of Iranian children were sent into minefields as human waves. Erasing history won't wash the blood off the IRGC. The axis of filth is collapsing. #IranRevolution2026 #IRGCterrorists

"Debunking" or just more regime-washing? The IRGC and mullahs sent thousands of children into minefields as human shields. Whether physical keys or brainwashing, the blood is on your hands. Your propaganda won't save the axis of filth. #IranRevolution2026 #IRGCterrorists

Even if it is invented (but an absence of evidence is not an evidence of absence) suggesting it is "white" propaganda aimed at mentally disarming Iranians is quite ridiculous.

تو همه جا باید گوه بخوری مرتیکه حروم زاده

Dude you still talk about bullshit, just stop, you embarassed yourself

@Khameinism It’s funny because my father who served in the Artesh would say that everyone in the regular army was secular and that it was the IRGC and Basij that would be doing the human wave assaults etc. I’ve had multiple family serve in that war, no one mentioned “golden keys” lmao