Hundreds of schoolgirls in about 30 schools in Iran have been victims of what are suspected to be targeted poison attacks in recent months. The girls have suffered from sudden dizziness and some have ended up in hospital.
– I feel pain in my chest, and when I walk my legs shake, says a girl.
The first suspected attacks took place in the city of Qom, southwest of Tehran, in November, when students at a conservatory fell ill. Then several cases were reported in other parts of the country, where school children complained of headaches, palpitations and other similar symptoms. Some had smelled chlorine or detergent.
– When I stand up, I feel dizzy and my whole body feels stiff, so I can’t walk, says another girl.
The suspected attacks were initially dismissed as coincidences. But the more reports that have come, the country’s leaders have started to take it all seriously.
No suspects
The suspected attacks have mainly affected schools for girls and young women. There are no suspects, but many have been concerned that these are attacks aimed at girls who are getting an education.
After similar events occurred in Tehran, among others, the regime changed and Iran’s chief prosecutor has recently opened an investigation because he believes it could be about “intentionally criminal acts”.
On Sunday, the state news agency Irna published several articles about the incidents, in which politicians and government employees stated that they were actual attacks.
The poison attacks are taking place at the same time as it has become increasingly difficult to get reliable information as the regime has cracked down harder on the protests. According to figures from human rights organizations, at least 95 journalists have been imprisoned since September.
Targeted attacks against women are not a new phenomenon in Iran. As recently as 2014, there were a series of acid attacks on women around Esfahan, believed to have been carried out by religious extremists.