41 Deaths in Four Provinces of Iran Due to Consumption of Fake Alcohol

On Thursday, October 11, Iranian media reported that poisoning from the consumption of non-standard alcoholic beverages in the provinces of Mazandaran, Gilan, Hamadan, and Kurdistan over the past ten days has resulted in 41 deaths and 343 poisonings. Among these reports, the Tehran-based newspaper 'Etemad' cited 'addiction treatment specialists in Gilan and Mazandaran' stating that the high number of poisonings and fatalities in this ten-day period is 'unusual' and indicative of 'bioterrorism by specific individuals and groups.' The newspaper noted, 'It is impossible for four producers in four provinces to have simultaneously produced poisoned products.' Bioterrorism, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., refers to the intentional use of viruses, bacteria, toxins, or other harmful agents to cause disease or death in people, animals, and plants. The attempt to impose the policies of the Islamic Republic on the personal lives of citizens and interfere with their lifestyles, including the prohibition of alcoholic beverages, has repeatedly taken victims in Iran. After the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979, the production, preparation, distribution, and consumption of alcoholic beverages became 'illegal,' with various penalties including execution. This policy, instead of stopping alcohol consumption, has led to the dangerous growth of the fake alcohol market over time, with no control over their quality. In 2018, the World Health Organization reported that Iran ranks ninth in per capita alcohol consumption among 189 countries. The 'Iran Open Data' platform conducted a survey three years ago with over 2,000 participants, revealing that 47.7% of respondents reported consuming alcohol 'regularly.' Sahar Matlabi: The stem of raisins in fake alcohol can create methanol, which can have a destructive effect on the body. Consumption of non-standard alcoholic beverages in Mazandaran has claimed victims; 21 people in 9 days. The death of 26 people due to the consumption of non-standard alcoholic beverages; traces of 'governmental murder'? Poisoning and death of 27 people due to poisoning from fake alcohol consumption in Rasht.