Dozens of Iranian schoolgirls hospitalized in new poisoning cases

Tehran, Mar 4 (EFE).- Dozens of Iranian girls were hospitalized on Saturday after cases of poisoning in at least six schools amid a wave of attacks in the nation.

While Iranian authorities and state-backed media said six schools were affected, activists insist the number was as high as a dozen.

The latest cases come amid a spate of poisonings in what appears to be a campaign to stop girls from getting their education.

On Saturday, at least 27 students from a school in the southern city of Kavar were hospitalized for symptoms of nausea and dizziness, the regional health department spokesman told the Tasnim news agency.

In another case, 30 students from a school in the western city of Urmia were hospitalized for symptoms of intoxication, Tasnim reported without citing official sources.

Another 29 were taken to hospital in Zanjan, the Shargh newspaper reported, while other cases were reported in Hamedan, Kabudarahang and Karaj, various local media said.

The activist platform 1500tasvir said there were more poisoning cases not reported by the authorities in Tehran, Sahriar, Pakdasht, Borujerd, Safadasht, Lahijan and Rasht.

Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi said Friday that “enemies of the state” were behind the poisonings and that their goal was to sow chaos in the country.

The first case of poisoning was recorded at the end of November in the holy city of Qom, where the largest number of cases have been reported.

The wave of poisonings in girls’ schools comes amid heightened tensions in Iran, which has been shaken in recent months by protests over the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini after she was arrested for allegedly not wearing the Islamic veil properly.

The protests have lost strength since four demonstrators were executed.EFE

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