Iran: poisoning of students in Tabriz, Kermanshah, Ashnoye, Isfahan, Shahin Shahr, Bandar Ganaveh and other cities

The poisoning of girls' schools in Iran has continued with increasing intensity. According to reports, at least eight schools and conservatories in Shahin Shahr (Isfahan), including the Manouchehr Ansari girls' school, the Al Yassin girls' conservatory and the Fahmideh school, have been chemically attacked. In addition, the Shayan Girls' School in Isfahan, the Islamic Revolution School in Tabriz, the Khadijah Kobra School in Oshnavieh, the Shima Moradi School in Kermanshah and a school in Bandar Ganaveh were also attacked. In other schools, families are taking their children to medical centres themselves, as no ambulances are available.

Since the reopening of schools on 3 April, dozens of students from schools in Tehran and other cities, including Ardabil, Pardis, Karaj, Daulat Abad, Isfahan, Shahin Shahr, Tabriz, Maragheh, Ajabshir, Naqadeh, Piranshahr, Urmia, Oshnavieh, Bandar Ganaveh, Haftkel, Kohenjan Sarvestan, Qom, Sanandaj, Saqez, Diwandara, Kermanshah and Amol have been poisoned. Despite these incidents, the regime's security, political and propaganda organs continue to deny the facts and mislead the public. According to a report published on the government website Salam-e No, Mehrdad Weis Karami, a member of the education committee of the regime's parliament, said yesterday: "There was no poisoning at all; some students only felt sick after inhaling the smell of the oil. This is not poisoning!"

In addition, the ISNA news agency quoted Mohammad Hossein Asafari, another member of parliament, as admitting that the regime's actions were mere hot air, saying, "The commission investigating the causes of the poisoning of the students did not produce any results because the security services could not find any evidence of poisoning...." The Ministry of Health has not yet determined the exact nature of the poisoning.... If the situation continues like this, the students will not be able to go to school. If the situation continues like this, the commission's report will not be ready for another fortnight". The Khabar Online website reported that Moinuddin Saeedi, a member of the regime's parliament, commented on the police chief's statement about the use of cameras to monitor women's hijab. He asked, "If these capabilities can detect crimes to such an extent, why are they not used to investigate the poisoning of girls?"

Ms. Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), stated that by committing a heinous crime during the holy month of Ramadan and the days commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Ali, Ali Khamenei is spreading this crime to different cities. She added that Khamenei is showing a new level of baseness and brutality to prevent the uprising of the people. What a futile effort! Because women, girls, boys and adolescents are the most vulnerable.