In Iran, religious and state leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described the recent poisoning of schoolgirls as “unforgivable crimes”. Authorities should pursue the cases seriously, Khamenei said Monday. “The perpetrators must be severely punished.” There are rumors about who could be behind the poison gas attacks. The government itself is also to blame.
Over the weekend, parents protested against the alleged attacks. According to video footage, one of the rallies in Tehran developed into an anti-government demonstration. Since November there has been a mysterious wave of poisoning, affecting more than 30 schools in large parts of the country. Hundreds of girls have fallen ill, according to the Ministry of Health. Doctors speak of poison gas attacks.
Some politicians have suggested that the girls may have been targeted by religious groups opposed to girls’ education. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi recently blamed “foreign enemies” for the attacks. Raisi left it open who he meant by that. However, the US and Israel are regularly referred to as enemies of the Islamic Republic.
Arrest fuels rumours
According to media reports, journalist Ali Purtabatabai was recently arrested in connection with the poisoning. According to the newspaper “Entekhab”, the man was working on his sister. The journalist worked in the religious stronghold of Qom (Ghom), where the first cases of poisoning were reported months ago. The arrest does not help “demystify the rumors and the news,” reform politician and journalist Abbas Abdi wrote on Twitter. It makes the rumors “even worse. I hope he is released soon.”
The first cases of the mysterious poisoning were reported in November. The Iranian government assumes targeted attacks. Girls’ schools are almost exclusively affected. Hundreds of schoolgirls have been treated in hospitals across the country. Parents and relatives are outraged and angry, and there is still no official explanation. They accuse the authorities of failure and blame them.
‘Punish schoolgirls for protesting’
Some also directly accuse the government of being behind the attacks. For example, Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad shared a video of Khamenei’s speech on Twitter, in which he spoke of the need to “punish” teenagers who protest against the government and stand up for women’s rights. “This is how they punish the schoolgirls,” Alinejad wrote, referring to the poison attacks.
For months, Iran’s leaders have faced anti-government protests that began after the death of 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini. Amini died in police custody in mid-September. She had previously been arrested by the so-called vice police for allegedly wearing her headscarf incorrectly. Schoolgirls also took part in the protests.
80,000 prisoners pardoned
According to the government, religious leader Khamenei has pardoned more than 80,000 prisoners. The pardon was announced in February, just before the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Similar amnesties were repeated around the anniversary. Among those pardoned would be numerous people jailed during the recent wave of protests. The figures cannot be verified.
Prominent artists, activists and human rights defenders have recently been released. Critics see the amnesty as a diversion after the political and spiritual leadership came under pressure. They also complained that an indictment should be available for a pardon. If not, the detainees would have to incriminate themselves, human rights activists criticized.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
