Hundreds of schoolgirls poisoned in Iran

“My daughter was poisoned at school last week.” That says an Iranian woman who wishes to remain anonymous to the American news channel CNN. Her child was nauseous, could barely breathe and had no feeling in his left leg. And now she also suffers from her left foot and can no longer walk properly. “We spent two days in a hospital in Qom province.”

It is not the first incident, as according to various media reports, hundreds of schoolgirls have been poisoned in recent months. They suffered from dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath. The first case came to the public last November, 18 high school students from Qom had to be hospitalized. The scenario was repeated on February 14 – 100 female students from a total of 13 schools required medical treatment.

Now also poison attacks in the capital

The wave of poisoning has now apparently also reached the Iranian capital Tehran. According to news agency Fars News, 35 girls had to be taken to hospital this time. State media has also reported poisonings in the city of Borujerd and in Chahar Mahal and Bakhtiari provinces.

Iranian Health Minister Bahram Eynollahi, 64, said on state news that investigations have been made, but nothing serious has been found. However, his deputy Younes Panahi was quoted by the Iranian news agency “IRNA” as saying, “It is clear that the people wanted to close girls’ schools in particular.” He later retracted the statement.

Many believe the poisonings are some kind of retaliation to the country’s “Women, Life, Freedom” protests. Young women in particular have called for the regime’s downfall as their freedoms are severely restricted. They are only allowed to leave the house with a veil. For example, Mohammad Habibi, the spokesman for the Iranian professional association of teachers, says on social media that the government wants to put the concessions it made after the demonstrations into perspective. In concrete terms, this means a relaxation of the dress code.

International reactions show dismay and bewilderment. US State Department spokesman Ned Price, 40, says: “Poisoning girls who just want to learn is disgusting.” So far there has been no official statement from the Iranian government around President Ebrahim Raisi (62) about the incidents. (two)

Source: Blick