Hundreds of Iranian girls in different schools have been suffering from “light poison” attacks in recent months, Iran’s health minister said, and some politicians suggest they may be targeted by religious groups opposed to girls’ education.
The situation comes at a critical time for Iran’s rulers, who have faced months of anti-government protests sparked by the death of a young Iranian woman in custody of the morality police, who enforce strict dress codes.
Poison attacks on more than 30 schools in at least four cities began in November in the Shiite Muslim holy city of Qom, prompting some parents to pull their children out of school, state media reported.
Social media posts showed some hospitalized female students reporting that they felt nauseous and suffered heart palpitations.
“Investigating where this mild poison comes from and whether it is an intentional move is not within the scope of my ministry,” Health Minister Bahram Einollahi was quoted as saying by state media.
His deputy, Younes Panahi, said on Sunday (26) that “it has been discovered that some people want schools, especially girls’ schools, to be closed”, according to the state news agency IRNA.
In 2014, Iranians took to the streets of the city of Isfahan after a wave of acid attacks, which appeared to be aimed at terrorizing women who violated the country’s strict Islamic dress code.
Senior clerics, lawmakers and politicians have criticized the government for failing to end the poison attacks and for giving mixed reasons for them, with some warning that frustration among families could trigger further protests.
A judicial investigation into the poisoning cases is ongoing, state media reported.
Source: CNN Brasil
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