Mystery schoolgirls poisoning in Iran

from Kilkenny Observer 10th March 2023

Stripey Women back to winning ways!

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says if proven to be deliberate, culprits should be sentenced to death for the unexplained poisoning of schools in up to 60 schools, according to a report from there Associated Press.

Speaking in Tehran he said that if the poisonings are proven to be deliberate the culprits should be sentenced to death for committing an “unforgivable crime”.

It was the rst time Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has thenal say on all matters of state, has spoken publicly about the suspected poisonings, which began late last year.

Iranian o cials only acknowledged them in recent weeks and have provided no details on who may be behind the attacks or what chemicals – if any – have been used. Unlike neighbouring Afghanistan, Iran has no history of religious extremists targeting women’s education.

“If the poisoning of students is proven, those behind this crime should be sentenced to capital punishment and there will be no amnesty for them,” Khamenei said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. Authorities have acknowledged suspected attacks at more than 50 schools across 21 of Iran’s 30 provinces since November.

Interior Minister Ahmad

Vahidi said that “suspicious samples” had been gathered by investigators, without elaborating. He called on the public to remain calm and accused unnamed enemies of inciting fear to undermine the country.

Mr Vahidi said at least 52 schools had been a ected by suspected poisonings, while Iranian media reports have put the number of schools at more than 60. At least one boy’s school reportedly has been a ected. e suspected poisonings have spread further fear among parents during months of unrest sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September.

Videos of upset parents and schoolgirls in emergency rooms with IVs in their arms have ooded social media. e children a ected in the poisonings have reportedly complained of headaches, heart palpitations, feeling lethargic or otherwise unable to move. Some described smelling tangerines, chlorine or cleaning agents. Reports suggest at least 400 schoolchildren have fallen ill since November. Minister Vahidi said in his statement that two girls remained in hospital because of underlying chronic conditions. ere have been no reported deaths. e World Health Organization documented a similar phenomenon in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012, when hundreds of girls across the country complained of strange smells and poisoning. No evidence was found to support the suspicions and the WHO said it appeared to be “mass psychogenic illnesses”.

Iran has imposed stringent restrictions on independent media since the outbreak of nationwide protests in September, making it di cult to determine the nature and scope of the suspected poisonings.

Recently Iranian media reported that authorities arrested a Qom-based journalist, Ali Pourtabatabaei, who had been regularly reporting on the suspected poisonings. e hardline Kayhan newspaper in an editorial had called for the arrests of newspaper publishers who printed articles on the crisis critical of Iran’s theocracy.

Religious hard-liners in Iran have been known to attack women they perceive as dressing immodestly in public. But even at the height of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution women and girls continued attending schools and universities.

As more attacks were reported, videos were posted on social media showing children complaining about pain in the legs, abdomen and dizziness. State media have mainly referred to these as “hysteric reactions”.

MONDAY 13 MARCH

TUESDAY 14 MARCH

WEDNESDAY 15 MARCH

REEL TO REEL OUTDOOR GIG Festival Stage, The ParadeFree 4.30PM HAKUNA MATATA ACROBATIC SHOW Canal Square, Kilkenny CityFree 8PM KILFERNORA CÉILÍ BAND IN CONCERT Watergate Theatre €32

7.30PM STOCKTON'S WING - KILKENNY TRADFEST HEADLINER Hotel Kilkenny

10PM TULUA - KILKENNY TRADFEST HEADLINER Paris Texas, High St. Free

EVENING KILKENNY IN GREENDESTINATION GREENING Kilkenny City LandmarksFree EVENING KILKENNY TRADFEST - MUSIC TRAIL GIGS Pubs & Hotels, Kilkenny CityFree

SATURDAY

THURSDAY 16 MARCH

EMMA LANGFORD & BANDKILKENNY TRADFEST HEADLINER Cleere's Bar & Theatre€20

KILKENNY IN GREENDESTINATION GREENING Kilkenny City LandmarksFree EVENING KILKENNY TRADFEST - MUSIC TRAIL GIGS Pubs & Hotels, Kilkenny CityFree

FRIDAY 17 MARCH

PARTY AT MACDONAGH JUNCTION Macdonagh Junction Shopping Centre Free

- 6PM FESTIVAL MARKET Mayors Walk, Kilkenny City Pay Per

- 6PM BIG WHEEL The Parade, Kilkenny City

WITH THE TULLA CEILÍ BANDS Kilkenny River Court Hotel€10 8PM SCULLION IN CONCERT IN CONCERT Watergate Theatre

THE BONNYMEN IN CONCERTHEADLINE TRADFEST GIG Billy Byrne's, John's St.€15

EVENING KILKENNY IN GREENDESTINATION GREENING Kilkenny City LandmarksFree

11AM - 5PM JUANITA THE CLOWN