The series of poisonings of schoolgirls in recent months continues to cause concern in Iran. On Sunday, new poisonings were reported at two secondary girls’ schools in the western cities of Abhar and Ahvaz and at a primary school in Zanjan, Iran’s Isna news agency reported. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, on Monday called the poisoning of schoolgirls an “unforgivable” crime. state media reported. Hundreds of girls have already been hospitalized.
More and more people within Iranian society are accusing the regime of being behind the poisonings. While it is unclear who is behind the poisonings, critics suspect the girls have been targeted by religious groups opposed to girls’ education.
The series of poisoning cases has been causing unrest in Iran for months. Last November, Iranian media first reported respiratory poisoning among hundreds of girls around the age of 10 in schools in the Shia town of Qom. The poison attacks are now said to have spread to at least 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces. Last week there were also cases in the capital Tehran.
The same thing happens every time: students of girls’ schools breathe in “unpleasant” or “unfamiliar” odors and show symptoms of nausea, shortness of breath and dizziness. The poisoning would be through the air circulation system. Some students were briefly hospitalized, but so far no one has been seriously affected. Out of fear and protest against the regime, some parents have taken their children out of school.
Transparent research
In particular, the laxity of the Iranian authorities has been denounced inside and outside Iran. Last week, the United Nations called for a “transparent investigation” to clarify all cases of poisoning of schoolgirls in Iran. “We are deeply concerned about these allegations that girls are being deliberately targeted in seemingly mysterious circumstances,” Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters in Geneva, according to the French news agency AFP. Just last week, President Ebrahim Raisi announced an investigation. He called the cases of poisoning a “conspiracy of the enemy to instill fear and despair in the people.”
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