On the sidelines of the Nairobi International Book Fair, over a thousand Kenyan students condemned the tragedy of the attack on a school in Minab—perpetrated by American child-killers—by writing down their heartfelt messages.

According to the Islamic Culture and Relations Organization, during the 27th Nairobi International Book Fair (2026), approximately 1,200 Kenyan students expressed their sympathy for the martyrs and their families following the Minab tragedy through handwritten messages.

These messages were compiled onto a collective solidarity board and displayed to visitors; the themes—rather than being political—centered on concepts such as mourning, prayer, condolences, empathy, peace, and opposition to violence.

A preliminary analysis of the messages indicates that roughly 78 percent explicitly focused on these themes. The emphasis on children and young victims, the use of symbols like hearts and drawings, and frequent references to God, prayer, and peace demonstrate that the students perceived and reflected upon the incident primarily from a humanitarian and ethical perspective.

As a cultural and educational venue, the Nairobi International Book Fair provided a platform to directly connect the issue of the attack on the Minab school—carried out by the US and the Zionist regime—with the sentiments and reactions of Kenya's younger generation.

The students' participation in this initiative serves as a tangible example of "people-to-people" engagement, allowing individuals to express their personal feelings and perspectives outside of formal frameworks. From the perspective of cultural diplomacy, the prevalence of humanitarian, religious, and peace-oriented themes stands out as a key finding of this experience. Given their resonance across diverse cultures and societies, these themes offer a fertile ground for fostering mutual understanding and forging emotional connections between Iranian society and Kenyan students.

Expressions of direct solidarity with Iran were also evident in some of the messages. Although this group represents a numerical minority, it holds significance for cultural diplomacy; it demonstrates that some young audience members, while sympathizing with the victims, also established an emotional bond with Iranian society.

Another noteworthy aspect is the focus placed on children and young martyrs. In some messages, the martyrs were referred to as "innocent children" or "young souls." This reflects the students' sensitivity toward their peers and highlights the humanitarian dimension of the incident in their minds.

Furthermore, the use of hearts, sad faces, drawings, and other visual symbols alongside written messages illustrates the students' use of simple, direct methods to convey their emotions—an approach well-suited to the participants' age group.