Hundreds Of Schoolgirls Poisoned In Iran Amidst Anti-Hijab Protests, Find Out What’s Happening

Here’s an explainer of why and how hundreds of school girls in Iran were poisoned over the past few months and what gave rise to the situation amidst ongoing anti-hijab protests across the country following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody.

iran schoolgirl poisoning

Amidst the ongoing anti-hijab protests in Iran for the past few months, hundreds of school girls have now been admitted to hospitals after suffering an alleged poisoning attack. As per the state agency Fars’ report, Iran’s deputy health minister Younes Panahi told media, “It became evident that some people wanted all schools, especially girls' schools, to be closed down.”

Further, he added that “a large percentage of the chemicals used to allegedly poison the students are treatable.”

How Were The Iran Schoolgirls Poisoned?

As per a report by BBC, poisoning the schoolgirls in Iran allegedly began in November 2022,. It was a deliberate attempt to forcefully shut down their schools. Although there were no deaths, dozens of girls suffered from respiratory problems, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.

Don't Miss: A Love Letter To Tabu: The Enduring Magic She Brings To Her Characters

The commencement of a criminal inquiry was announced last week by the attorney general. He claimed that the facts at hand only suggested "the probability of unlawful and deliberate activities," nonetheless.

On November 30, 2022, the first case of poisoning took place when 18 students of Nour Technical School in the religious city of Qom were taken to the hospital. Following this, as many as 10 girls’ schools have been targeted in the surrounding province and at least 194 students have been reported to be poisoned in the last week at four schools in the city of Borujerd, in the western province of Lorestan. Recently, on February 28, 2023, around 37 students were poisoned at the Khayyam Girls' School in the city near the capital Tehran.

Before falling sick, the poisoned girls claimed to have smelled rotten fish or tangerine.

At least 100 people participated in a protest outside the Qom governor's office earlier this month. “You are obliged to ensure my children's safety! I have two daughters. Two daughters... and all I can do is not let them go to school,” said a father in a video that went viral on social media.

While another woman said, "This is war! They are doing this in a girls' high school in Qom to force us to sit at home. They want girls to stay at home."

Several videos on social media show teenage girls lying dazed on hospital beds holding hands with their friends, sisters, or mother’s.

Where and Why Were Iran Schoolgirls Poisoned?

The poisonings have been especially concentrated in Qom, which is the location of significant Shia Muslim sites and the centre of the Islamic Republic's religious establishment.

While Minister Panahi’s statement made it evident that the poisonings were “premeditated”, his subsequent denial also hinted at the disagreements among officials over how to handle the public outrage when no suspects had been identified.

The public outrage, protests, and the tiff between the Iran officials and citizens began in September 2022, following Mahsa Amini’s death in custody.

Mahsa Amini and Anti-Hijab Protests Across Iran

On September 16, 2022, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini, from the north-western city of Saqez, died in a hospital after spending three days in a coma. She was with her brother in Tehran when she was arrested, on September 13, 2023, by Iran’s “morality police”, who accused her of wearing an “improper” hijab. She slipped into a coma shortly after collapsing at Vozara Detention Centre.

Don't Miss:Ishaan Khatter: From Beyond The Clouds To A Suitable Boy, He Is Here To Stay

Thousands have taken to the streets of Iran including in Tehran, Isfahan, Karaj, Mashhad, Rasht, Saqqes, and Sanandaj to protest against Amini’s death. The protests are being frontlined by women. The police and security forces have responded with live ammunition, pellet guns, and tear gas.

Slogans, such as ‘Death to dictator’, ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’, and ‘No to the headscarf, no to the turban, yes to freedom and equality!’ have been raised during the protest. Iranians took to the streets supporting the protesting women in demand for change in the country’s regime. Iran has been officially under the regime of the Islamic Republic for over 40 years now.

HzLogo

Take charge of your wellness journey—download the HerZindagi app for daily updates on fitness, beauty, and a healthy lifestyle!

GET APP