Iranian schoolgirls taken to hospital after new gas poisonings
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Alaina
- . March 2, 2023
- . Update: March 2, 2023 8:33 pm
Dozens of girls from 26 schools in the Islamic Republic of Iran have been taken to hospitals following another wave of apparent toxic gas attacks in five cities across the country.
They are being treated for gas poisoning at hospitals. Reportedly, the latest attack in Ardabil, a city in northwestern Iran, forced the hospitalisation of 108 school students. A similar incident also took place in Tehran, the capital of Iran. According to the Tasnim news agency, the incident took place at three schools in Tehran. According to the Fars news agency, some students in the western neighbourhood of Tehransar were exposed to a toxic spray.
Nearly 1,200 students have been affected since November 2022. They have suffered respiratory issues, nausea, weakness, dizziness and fatigue. They required hospitalisation to treat breathing problems.
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Almost 800 students in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, required hospitalisation due to the apparent toxic gas attacks. Around 400 students in the western city of Borujerd were also hospitalised.
Recently, Iranian deputy health minister, Younes Panahi, said that some people poisoned the students in the holy city of Qom with the aim of shutting down education for girls. He further revealed that some people wanted the closure of all schools, especially girls’ schools.
Recently, some parents also protested outside the schools and the Qom city governor’s office seeking clarification on the matter. They demanded the arrest of the accused in relation to the gas poisoning cases. Parents said that some schoolgirls were targeted for taking part in recent anti-government and anti-hijab protests, sparked by the death in police custody of a 22-year-old Iranian woman Mahsa Amini on September 16.
Reportedly, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said that three people had been arrested in relation to the gas poisoning cases. The recent gas poisoning cases have provoked a fresh wave of anger in the country.
