Iranian Opposition Figure Rahnavard Blames Leadership For School Poisonings

Prominent Iranian political figure Zahra Rahnavard has harshly criticized the country’s clerical rulers over a wave of poisonings at girls’ schools, which she called “the ugliest and most tragic anti-woman scenario.”

Rahnavard is a university professor married to opposition figure Mir Hossein Musavi.

In a statement released on the eve of International Women's Day, she said the poisoning of hundreds of schoolgirls over more than three months was “staged by reactionary forces, with the rulers’ support or with their silence and feigned ignorance.”

According to Rahnavard, the poisonings are "revenge by the Islamic Republic’s rulers against innocent girls and female students" for their role in women-led protests triggered by the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police.

"The rulers who are against women are aware that protesting and informed women and girls have not only assumed the leadership of the ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ movement with pride, but they will also emerge as the unquestionable leaders in the momentous events lying ahead,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, more Iranian schoolgirls complained of being sickened, as protests were held across the country to demand justice for the poisonings and call on the authorities to ensure the safety of schools.

The security forces violently dispersed some of the demonstrations and detained participants.

While Iranian political figures and activists have described the wave of poisonings as "chemical" and "biological" attacks, officials have only recently admitted there may be a problem.

Deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi told state TV on March 7 that several people were arrested in five different provinces over the poisonings, adding that “a comprehensive investigation is currently underway.” He did not provide any details regarding those detained.

In his first official response to the poisonings on March 6, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called the poisonings an "unforgivable crime” and said that the perpetrators “should be severely punished.”