In hospital with shortness of breath: 20 schoolgirls in Iran poisoned again

Poisonings at girls’ schools in Iran have been reported again and again for several months. Now there has been another incident in Tabris in the northwest of the country. 20 students were taken to the hospital with shortness of breath.

There have been more poisoning attacks on schoolgirls in Iran. They had only gone back to school a few days after the Iranian New Year holidays. In Tabriz, northern Iran, 20 schoolgirls were taken to hospital with symptoms of poisoning. None of the girls are in mortal danger, the head of the local emergency department, Asghar Jafari, told the state news agency Irna.

Yesterday, five schoolgirls with symptoms of poisoning were treated in the hospital in Naghadeh in the north-west of the country. 70 others complained of abdominal pain, vomiting and dizziness.

Probably thousands of students affected

The poisoning has been occurring since the end of November – almost exclusively in girls’ schools. Thousands of schoolgirls are now said to be affected.

It is unclear who is behind the alleged poison attacks. The government in Tehran blames the exile opposition group the People’s Mujahideen. It is considered a terrorist group by Iran. The authorities speak of more than 100 suspects who have been arrested. The People’s Mujahideen reject all allegations.

New protests over poisoning

The poisoning had led to new protests in Iran. Teachers and relatives of the victims accused the authorities of not doing enough to stop the attacks.

The government has been under pressure since last September. The death of Mahsa Amini in police custody sparked a wave of protests and demonstrations. Amini was arrested because of a headscarf that didn’t fit properly according to Iranian regulations.