A large mural paying tribute to Druze and Iranian children killed by the Islamic regime in Iran and its proxies was unveiled Thursday in Webster, Texas. Iranian-American artist Hooman Khalili wanted to highlight these victims ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The work, named “WOMAN. LIFE. FREEDOM.,” was revealed between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. at 425 Henrietta in Webster, outside Houston.

It portrays children on a soccer field and blends stories of victims from Israel and Iran. At its heart are the 12 Druze children who died on July 27, 2024, after a Hezbollah rocket hit a playing field in Majdal Shams near Mount Hermon in northern Israel.

The artwork also remembers Iranian children lost in protests and crackdowns by the regime since 2022, including Kian Pirfalak, Sarina Esmailzadeh, and Nika Shakarami.

“This mural centers on children,” Khalili said. “From different backgrounds, countries, and languages - yet sharing the same lost innocence. They face a common enemy in the ideology and violence pushed by the Islamic regime and its proxies.”

Khalili noted the timing matches rising global attention on North America for the FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Khalili: Project Roots Lie in Israel

“The roots of this project are in Israel,” he said. “But my hope is that it grows in the United States. As the world comes together for soccer, I want global eyes to also see the humanity of these children and the brutality that ended their lives.”

The mural includes symbols tied to Druze and Persian identity, such as references to Nabi Shu’ayb, Jethro’s Tomb, the Azadi Tower in Tehran, and the Lion and Sun emblem of Persia.

Khalili recently visited Majdal Shams, where he met Naila Fakhr al-Din, mother of Alma Fakhr al-Din, and Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Rafa Halabi. The piece also honors Iranian footballer Zahra Azadpour, killed during unrest in Iran in January 2026.