"No Hijab" Girls' School Faces Series of Poison Attacks... "Seemingly Aimed at Closure"

Targeting at least 12 schools since the end of last year
"Possibility related to protests against hijab"

There have been consecutive poison attacks targeting female students in Iran. Amid the spread of anti-government protests following the suspicious death related to the hijab in Iran, claims are gaining traction that these crimes aim to "close girls' schools."

According to Bloomberg and other sources on the 26th (local time), since late November last year, hundreds of toxic substance poisoning incidents have occurred at girls' schools in Qum, a holy city in Iran, and the capital Tehran, with dozens of students receiving treatment. It was revealed that the students inhaled toxic substances through their respiratory tracts.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Starting with 18 people showing symptoms at a high school in Qum on November 30, it has been identified that at least 200 students and one teacher across 12 girls' schools have exhibited symptoms such as nausea, headaches, coughing, and difficulty breathing.

According to Iran International, an anti-government media outlet headquartered in the UK, many of the affected students received short-term treatment, but some have had symptoms persisting for several months. No suspects have been arrested in connection with this incident so far.

Younes Panahi, Deputy Minister of Health of Iran, told reporters, "It appears that someone targeted all schools, especially girls' schools, with the aim of closing them."

Homayoun Same Najafabadi, a member of the Iranian Parliament's Health Committee, also analyzed in a local media interview that "this incident was intentional."

In September last year, Mahsa Amini (female, 22), who was arrested by the local morality police in Tehran for "not wearing a hijab," died under suspicious circumstances, sparking anti-hijab protests across Iran. Foreign media have noted that this incident occurred amid the spread of anti-government protests.

In Iran, females aged nine and above are required by hijab law to wear a hijab in public places. Violations result in fines, beatings, or arrests by the morality police.

However, since Amini's death, the number of women not wearing hijabs has increased locally, and even women who voluntarily wear the hijab due to strong religious beliefs are supporting petitions on social media with phrases like "I wear a hijab, but I oppose forced hijab wearing," expressing rejection of compulsory hijab enforcement.