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Iran supreme leader calls suspected schoolgirl poisonings ‘unforgivable’ Iran supreme leader calls suspected schoolgirl poisonings ‘unforgivable’
(31 minutes later)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says culprits should be severely punished, amid signs hundreds of girls have been treated in hospitalAyatollah Ali Khamenei says culprits should be severely punished, amid signs hundreds of girls have been treated in hospital
Iran’s supreme leader has called the suspected poisoning of Iranian schoolgirls in recent months an “unforgivable” crime amid signs that hundreds of schoolgirls have been treated in hospital, many more than the regime had previously admitted.Iran’s supreme leader has called the suspected poisoning of Iranian schoolgirls in recent months an “unforgivable” crime amid signs that hundreds of schoolgirls have been treated in hospital, many more than the regime had previously admitted.
“Authorities should seriously pursue the issue of students’ poisoning. This is an unforgivable and big crime … The perpetrators of this crime should be severely punished,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said. He added there would be no amnesty for those found guilty.“Authorities should seriously pursue the issue of students’ poisoning. This is an unforgivable and big crime … The perpetrators of this crime should be severely punished,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said. He added there would be no amnesty for those found guilty.
It was his first public reaction since the suspected poisonings began three months ago, but came as one of the leading journalists reporting on them, Ali Portabatabaei, the editor of Qom News, was arrested. It was his first public reaction since the suspected poisonings began three months ago. Iranian officials only acknowledged the incidents in recent weeks and have provided no details on who may be behind the attacks or what chemicals — if any — have been used. On Monday it emerged that authorities had arrested a Qom-based journalist, Ali Pourtabatabaei, who was regularly reporting on the suspected poisonings.
Shahriar Heydari, a member of the Iranian parliament’s security commission, demanded that the country’s security council step up its inquiries into what he called an organised movement Shahriar Heydari, a member of the Iranian parliament’s security commission, demanded that the country’s security council step up its inquiries into what he called an organised movement.
More than 1,000 Iranian girls in different schools have suffered various degrees of suspected poison attacks since November, with some politicians suggesting they could have been targeted by extremist religious groups opposed to girls’ education in line with the thinking of the Taliban in Afghanistan. In the latest episode, a group of schoolgirls were taken to Imam Khomeini hospital in Kohdasht. According to Iranian officials hundreds of girls in different schools have been affected. Some politicians have suggested that they could have been targeted by extremist religious groups opposed to girls’ education in line with the thinking of the Taliban in Afghanistan. In the latest episode, a group of schoolgirls were taken to Imam Khomeini hospital in Kohdasht.
In a fresh wave of attacks it was reported 39 students in Shandarman Masal, 30 students in Qochan, and 16 students and a teacher in Neishabur were poisoned. The number of poisoned students in Khuzestan province increased to more than 1,100, and a group of students from a girls’ dormitory in Mashhad also went to hospital after being poisoned. The suspected poisonings have spread further fear among parents during months of unrest sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September. Videos of upset parents and schoolgirls in emergency rooms with IVs in their arms have flooded social media. Some parents have taken their children out of school and held protests against the establishment.
Habib Haibar, the vice-chancellor of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, said 1,104 schoolgirls had been treated in Khuzestan hospitals due to poisoning. For the first time since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, schoolgirls have been joining the protests that spiralled after Amini’s death in morality police custody. Some activists have accused the establishment of the poisonings in revenge.
On Monday there were reports of suspected poisonings affecting 39 students in Shandarman Masal, 30 students in Qochan, and 16 students and a teacher in Neishabur. A group of students from a girls’ dormitory in Mashhad were also taken to hospital.
Habib Haibar, the vice-chancellor of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, said 1,104 schoolgirls had been treated in Khuzestan hospitals alone for symptoms linked to possible poisoning attacks.
Unlike neighbouring Afghanistan, Iran has no history of religious extremists targeting women and girls’ education. Even at the height of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution women and girls continued attending schools and universities.Unlike neighbouring Afghanistan, Iran has no history of religious extremists targeting women and girls’ education. Even at the height of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution women and girls continued attending schools and universities.
The suspected attacks that started in November in the holy city of Qom in central Iran have spread to at least 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces, prompting some parents to take their children out of school and hold protests against the establishment. The suspected attacks that started in November in the holy city of Qom in central Iran have spread to at least 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces.
The seriousness with which the security forces have sought out the perpetrators is compared with their treatment of protesters demanding the right to choose whether to wear the hijab. The seriousness with which the security forces have sought out perpetrators has been contrasted with their treatment of protesters demanding the right to choose whether to wear the hijab.
Theories abound in Iranian society about the cause of the poisoning, ranging from the children possessing a heightened sense of smell, to a collective paranoia, the work of the Israeli intelligence services or the work of reactionary zealots. Theories abound in Iranian society about the cause of the incidents, ranging from the children possessing a heightened sense of smell, to a collective paranoia, the work of the Israeli intelligence services or the work of reactionary zealots.
The controversy has been deepened by efforts by some conservative-minded politicians in parliament to object to any debate being held.The controversy has been deepened by efforts by some conservative-minded politicians in parliament to object to any debate being held.
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The suspected poisonings have spread further fear among parents during months of unrest sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September. Videos of upset parents and schoolgirls in emergency rooms with IVs in their arms have flooded social media. Iran has imposed stringent restrictions on independent media since the outbreak of nationwide protests in September, making it difficult to determine the nature and scope of the incidents. Affected children have reportedly complained of headaches, heart palpitations, feeling lethargic or otherwise unable to move. Some described smelling tangerines, chlorine or cleaning agents.
Iran has imposed stringent restrictions on independent media since the outbreak of nationwide protests in September, making it difficult to determine the nature and scope of the suspected poisonings.
The children affected in the poisonings have reportedly complained of headaches, heart palpitations, feeling lethargic or otherwise unable to move. Some described smelling tangerines, chlorine or cleaning agents.
The World Health Organization documented a similar phenomenon in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012, when hundreds of girls across the country complained of strange smells and poisoning. No evidence was found to support the suspicions and the WHO said it appeared to be “mass psychogenic illnesses”.The World Health Organization documented a similar phenomenon in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012, when hundreds of girls across the country complained of strange smells and poisoning. No evidence was found to support the suspicions and the WHO said it appeared to be “mass psychogenic illnesses”.