Iranian Students Jailed for Protesting School Poisonings

Two university students have been sentenced to one year in prison each for protesting a wave of poisonings that has affected thousands of schoolgirls across Iran.

The United Students' Telegram channel said on August 8 that the Tehran Revolutionary Court convicted Hasti Amiri and Zia Nabavi of "propaganda activity” against the Islamic Republic. 

The case stemmed from a March 7 protest by students of Allameh Tabatabai University in response to poisonings that had targeted hundreds of girls’ schools since November last year, in what Amnesty International described as “a campaign that appears to be highly coordinated and organized.”

As many as 13,000 pupils have reportedly suffered symptoms including nausea, fainting, headaches, coughing, breathing difficulties and heart palpitations, with many requiring treatment in hospital.

The attacks appear to target girls for their involvement in nationwide protests sparked by the September death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.

Amiri and Nabavi were also prosecuted for their support for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protest movement and advocacy against the death penalty.