The UN joined the voice of Germany’s diplomatic chief on Friday, March 3, to call for a “transparent investigation” to solve “all cases” of schoolgirl poisoning in Iran. “The reports of poisoned schoolgirls in Iran are shocking,” wrote Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Twitter. “All cases must be cleared up,” she demands.
For context: article reserved for our subscribers In Iran, hundreds of schoolgirls have been victims of malicious poisoning
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also called for “a transparent investigation” and public statements. “We are very concerned by these allegations that girls are being deliberately assaulted in what appear to be mysterious circumstances,” Ravina Shamdasani, the High Commissioner’s spokeswoman, told reporters in Geneva.
This case of collective poisoning began in late November 2022 when the media reported on the respiratory poisoning of hundreds of girls around the age of 10 in schools in the holy city of Qom (centre). Cases were also seen in Tehran this week after a series of attacks attributed to opponents of girls’ education.
World Health Organization (WHO) spokeswoman Margaret Harris said the agency is in touch with national health authorities and medical professionals about the incidents and is using “other avenues to better understand the event so we have better evidence”. The case sparked a wave of anger across the country, with voices decrying the authorities’ silence over the growing number of schools affected.
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