A Member of Parliament Reports: Hundreds Arrested in Student Poisoning Incident

A member of parliament reported the trace of what he called a 'deviant current' in the poisoning of students, claiming that 'a wide range of opponents and opportunists from the deviant group' created the incident. According to Morteza Mahmoudvand, 'a large number' have been arrested and are 'under observation and interrogation.' This parliament member stated that 'hundreds of people are detained' regarding the poisoning case, and those who attributed the poisonings to the students have somehow 'discredited the issue.' He did not provide further details about the arrested individuals, the investigation process, or their possible affiliations. The issue of the serial poisoning of female students has been one of the controversial topics since last winter. On one side, some factions attributed the actions to 'hardliners,' while on the other side, the security and governmental apparatus of the Islamic Republic attributed the serial poisonings to 'enemies' and 'subversives.' In this context, Mohammad Hossein Asafari, a member of the Parliament's Council Commission, stated on March 14, 2023, that the perpetrators of the poisonings were related to those who 'played a role in the protests a few months ago and were connected to some illegal active organizations.' He emphasized that some of the poisoning agents were linked to 'foreign intelligence services.' This incident also drew international reactions, and on April 20, 2023, a bipartisan group in the U.S. Congress condemned the Islamic Republic for the poisoning of school students, especially girls' schools. In this regard, Sheila Jackson, a Democratic representative from Texas, announced the formation of a group of Iranian women in Congress with the support of nearly 20 Republican and Democratic representatives in the House of Representatives. UNICEF's office in Tehran also announced, albeit late on Thursday, March 2, 2023, that the cases of student poisonings 'could negatively impact the high education rates of children, especially girls.' The United Nations Children's Fund also tweeted during those days emphasizing that 'school is a safe haven for children's and adolescents' learning,' stating that the cases of student poisonings in schools 'could negatively affect the high education rates of children, especially girls.' The 'final' report on the reasons for the student poisonings was presented to Ghalibaf; one representative stated that some had 'malicious intent.' Recent cases of 'serial poisonings' involved attacks on schools in Tehran, Kermanshah, Saqqez, and Harsin, continuing the 'chemical attacks' on schools in Iran just a day after the Ministry of Intelligence's report was published. The Ministry of Intelligence's report on the cause of the poisonings stated that they were 'jokes, feigning illness, and anti-security objectives.' New poisonings were reported in schools in Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and Tehran; legal cases were opened for protesting students. Poisonings of students occurred in four cities; an eyewitness reported that children were not allowed to leave school. A new bipartisan group in the U.S. Congress condemned the poisoning of girls in Iran. Amnesty International stated that the purpose of the chemical attacks was likely to punish girls protesting against mandatory hijab. The continuation of poisonings in schools in Iran puts millions of schoolgirls at risk.