Iranian Schoolgirls Poisoned in more Attacks

More Iranian schoolgirls were taken to hospital on April 5 amid a wave of poisoning attacks that have hit more than 200 girls’ schools across the country over more than four months.

In the central province of Fars, a video posted on social media showed several pupils from Esteghlal Girls' School in Kohenjan being rushed to hospital in apparent serious condition.

Students from Hazrat Mehdi Girls' High School in Piranshahr, West Azarbaijan province, were also brought to hospital.

The day before, an official in the north-western city of Tabriz said 20 schoolgirls were treated after suffering shortness of breath.

Eight students from Sahr Girls' High School in Isfahan’s Dolat Abad district were also taken to hospital.

The poisoning attacks occurred after Iranian schools resumed classes on April 3 following the Persian New Year break.

Since November 2022, more than 5,000 students have suffered symptoms including nausea, fainting, headaches, coughing, breathing difficulties and heart palpitations, with many requiring treatments in hospital.

The poisonings have sparked fear and anger among schoolgirls, their parents and Iranian society at large.

After Iranian authorities announced arrests over the poisonings last month, UN experts criticized the Islamic Republic for failing to protect the schoolgirls, prevent further attacks and conduct swift investigations.

The experts said the attacks might be “orchestrated to punish girls” for their involvement in nationwide protests sparked by the September 2022 death of a young woman in police custody.