More than 100 people have been detained in Iran on suspicion of poisoning schoolgirls

• Iran has experienced a surge in suspected poisonings, nearly solely at girls’ schools.
• Activists believe the poisonings are linked to the statewide protests that erupted last September.
• Medical professionals, parents, and educators have accused the Iranian government.

More than 100 persons have been arrested “in connection with” the suspected poisoning of hundreds of schoolgirls around the country.

The people were “identified, arrested, and investigated” in different places, including the capital Tehran, citing a statement from Iran‘s Interior Ministry.

“Initial inquiries show that a number of these people, out of mischief or adventurism and with the aim of shutting down classrooms and influenced by the created psychological atmosphere, have taken measures such as using harmless and smelly substances,” the statement read.

In recent months, Iran has experienced a surge in suspected poisonings, nearly solely at girls’ schools.

While Iranian officials believe the girls were targeted by hardline Islamist groups, activists believe the poisonings are linked to the statewide protests that erupted last September in response to Mahsa Ami’s murder. Several schoolgirls have participated in the protests, tearing up photos of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and asking for his murder.

Medical professionals, parents, and educators have accused the Iranian government of attempting to silence the victims.

The suspected poisonings were earlier described as an “unforgivable act” by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who urged for “severe punishment” for those found responsible.

According to the ministry, those arrested “had hostile intents, intended to generate dread and horror among people and students, shut down schools, and engendered pessimism towards” the Iranian government.

These would stay “under investigation until required assurances are achieved,” according to the statement, which also stated that the number of poisoning cases at girls’ schools across the country has decreased “over the past several days.”

Among those arrested, the ministry said, were “individuals who have had hostile motives, tried to create fear and horror among people and students, shut down schools, and created pessimism toward” the Iranian government.

They would remain “under investigation until required assurances are achieved,” the statement said, adding that the number of poisoning cases at girls’ schools across the country had been decreasing “over the past several days.”

According to Iranian official media, the first suspected poisonings occurred in November at a high school in the city of Qom, where 18 schoolgirls were hospitalized.

A mother of two kids from Qom earlier told that both girls, who went to different schools, had had serious health problems as a result of the poisoning.

One girl reported nausea, loss of breath, and numbness in her left leg and right hand, while the other had “difficulty walking,” according to her.

Another instance in the city occurred in February when more than 100 kids from 13 schools were hospitalized as a result of “serial poisonings,” according to Iranian state news media.

Both the US and the UN have urged Iranian authorities to fully investigate the suspected poisonings and hold those guilty accountable.

The White House stated on Monday that there must be a “serious, impartial” probe into the poisonings of Iranian schoolgirls, implying that the topic could fall under the authority of the United Nations.

Originally, the Biden administration stated that Iran was conducting its own inquiry.

“We are closely following this deeply concerning situation that we’re seeing in Iran,” she said. “The continued poisoning of schoolgirls across Iran is unconscionable. There must be a credible, independent investigation (and) accountability for those responsible.”

She said if the poisonings were related to recent protests, it was “well within” the UN fact-finding mission’s mandate.

“The possibility that girls in Iran are being possibly poisoned simply for trying to get an education is shameful, it’s unacceptable,” she said.

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