Iranian schoolgirls fall victim to poisoning, 20 hospitalized with symptoms

This incident is part of a series of attacks that have occurred over the past four months, causing sickness among thousands of students throughout the country.

The chief of the emergency services in West Azerbaijan province stated that the girls had received medical attention for experiencing difficulty breathing, reported news agency ISNA on Tuesday.

The official said the students' overall health was satisfactory.

Starting from November 2022, over 5,000 students have experienced various symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, headaches, coughing, breathing problems, and heart palpitations. Many of these students have had to receive medical attention at hospitals.

The incidents of attacks, which have taken place in over 200 schools throughout the country, have caused anxiety and outrage among schoolgirls, their families, and Iranian society as a whole.

The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has demanded that those responsible for committing the "unforgivable crime" be pursued and brought to justice "without mercy."

The Islamic Republic faced criticism from United Nations (UN) experts for their inability to safeguard the schoolgirls, prevent additional attacks, and conduct prompt investigations, following the announcement of arrests related to the poisonings last month.

The incidents of poisoning began approximately two months after the widespread protests that occurred in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained for allegedly violating the country's dress code regulations.

According to the most recent official report, schools in 25 of Iran's 31 provinces have been subjected to these attacks.