Dozens Of Schoolgirls Hospitalised In Fresh Spate Of Poison Attacks As Iran Probes Matter

Hundreds of cases of respiratory distress have been reported among Iranian schoolgirls in the last three months, mainly in the city of Qom south of Tehran, with some needing hospital treatment.

Dozens of schoolgirls in Iran were hospitalised after being poisoned (Representational Image)

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Dozens of schoolgirls in Iran were taken to hospital on Tuesday after a mysterious poisoning, in the latest spate of suspected attacks, reported Iranian news agency. Hundreds of cases of respiratory distress have been reported among Iranian schoolgirls in the last three months, mainly in the city of Qom south of Tehran, with some needing hospital treatment.

As per a report by BBC, almost 700 girls have been poisoned in the country since November, in what many believe is a deliberate attempt to force their schools to shut. 

Earlier this week, the Iranian deputy minister said that some people were poisoning schoolgirls in Iran’s holy city of Qom with the aim of shutting down education for girls, the state media had reported. 

However, he later said that his remarks had been misunderstood.

While there has been no casualty reported, dozens of the schoolgirls suffered respiratory problems, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. 

According to the news agency, 35 students had been transferred to the hospital so far, adding to the hundreds of cases of poisoning since November in at least two other cities

The prosecutor general announced last week that he was opening a criminal investigation into these incidents. He however said that the available information only indicated "the possibility of criminal and premeditated acts".

Earlier on February 14, parents of students who had been ill had gathered outside the city's governorate to "demand an explanation" from the authorities, IRNA reported.

The next day government spokesman Ali Bahadori Jahromi said the intelligence and education ministries were trying to find the cause of the poisonings.

There have been no arrests made in connection with the matter so far. 

The poisonings come as Iran has been rocked by protests since the December 16 death in custody of 22-year-old Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini for an alleged violation of the country's strict dress code for women.

The country saw widespread protests with women burning their hijabs and thousands of people taking to the streets to protest against the Iranian government. Several other countries also came out in solidarity with Iranian women.