Hundreds of new cases of unexplained poisoning have been reported in girls’ schools in Iran. As the Iranian newspaper “Schargh” reported today, more than 400 students in eleven schools in the northern Iranian city of Ardabil were affected.
Nearly 100 girls are being treated at the hospital, and in some cases, the girls’ health is considered critical. Similar cases were reported yesterday at dozens of schools in other parts of the country.
The latest wave of poisonings in girls’ schools has left the country in a state of confusion. Parents are worried and angry, there is still no official statement from the government. However, the authorities have long assumed targeted poison attacks. The background is unclear. Students complain of dizziness, nausea and shortness of breath.
Wave started in November
The first cases were already reported in late November, when protests in Iran were in full swing. Initially, only a few girls’ schools in the Shia stronghold of Qom were affected, but in recent days more and more cases have become known in other parts of the country. Many girls were taken to hospitals. Now, the wave of poisoning has also reached the capital, Tehran.
After the Ministry of Health initially dealt with the cases, archconservative President Ibrahim Raisi also got involved.
His government has been under pressure for months alongside the country’s clerical leadership. The women’s protests last fall plunged the political leadership into the worst crisis in decades, and the difficult economic situation is also a source of great concern for many.