Iranian schoolgirls targeted in spate of poisoning attacks
A recent spate of mass illnesses at girls’ schools in Iran was caused by deliberate poisoning using “chemical compounds,” a senior Iranian health official told the semi-official Fars news agency, Bloomberg reports.
Younes Panahi, deputy health minister, told reporters on Sunday that “certain individuals sought the closure of all schools, especially girls’ schools,” Fars reported. Panahi didn’t give any more details. The poisonings have led to dozens of girls being hospitalized for treatment. The poisonings come months after widespread protests against Iran’s Islamist leadership erupted over the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. The authorities have responded with deadly force and four protesters have been executed. Thousands of people remain in prison for taking part in demonstrations and rights groups say more than 500 people have been killed by security forces. The attacks have all targeted girls’ schools and were first reported in November at a secondary school in the theological city of Qom. At least 14 schools have been targeted across four cities, including the northwestern city of Ardebil, the capital Tehran and the western city of Boroujerd, according to newspaper, Etemad.