04/03/2023 19:26 (act. 04/03/2023 19:26)
In Iran, several parents demonstrated on Saturday over alleged poisoning attacks on schoolgirls. Protests erupted in the capital Tehran and other cities. According to media reports, hundreds of students have complained of symptoms such as malaise, nausea or palpitations in recent weeks and some have been taken to hospitals. According to the Ministry of Health, it was “mild intoxication”.
Some politicians blamed Islamic extremists who oppose girls’ education. As of Saturday, more than 30 schools in at least 10 of Iran’s 31 provinces have been affected. Videos posted on internet forums showed parents picking up their children outside school buildings and some girls being taken to hospitals by ambulance or bus. A parent demonstration in front of the Ministry of Education building in western Tehran turned into an anti-government demonstration, video shows.
For months, Iran’s rulers have faced anti-government protests that began after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini died in police custody in mid-September. She had previously been arrested by the vice squad for allegedly wearing her head scarf incorrectly. According to Amnesty International, the protests have killed dozens. Students also participated in the demonstrations. The demonstrations have become the biggest challenge for the government since the founding of the Islamic Republic.