Washington, March 1. The United States on Wednesday called for accountability for the perpetrators of the wave of gas poisonings in girls’ schools in Iran, in the face of new cases affecting hundreds of young people.
“Hope that the Iranian autoridades investigate a fondo estos envenenamientos denunciados y hagan todo lo que esté en su mano para detenerlos y hacer rendir cuentas a su autores”, expresó el portavoz del Departamento de Estado de EE.UU., Ned Price, en rueda Press.
Hundreds of female students were hospitalized on Wednesday after suffering eye irritation, dizziness and headaches from poisoning at eight schools and institutes in the city of Ardebil, three schools in Tehran, one in Parand and one another in Kermanshah, the reformist daily Shargh reported.
These new cases add to the at least 30 gas poisonings recorded in female educational centers since November in the Persian country.
Calling the cases “disturbing” and “worrying,” Price argued that education is a universal right that girls in Iran should have, as it is “essential to advancing women’s economic security and achieving gender equality. gender rights”.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has instructed Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidí and the Health Ministry to “quickly” investigate the causes of the poisonings.
Many parents of the students concerned protested at the school gates and demanded explanations, even shouting “Death to the government which murders children”.
Meanwhile, security forces continue to find no clues and doubt whether these were deliberate attacks or mere accidents.
The first case of poisoning was recorded at the end of November in the holy city of Qom, the city which suffered the greatest number of cases, and in recent weeks they have multiplied in several cities of the country.
The spate of poisonings in girls’ schools comes at a time of great tension in Iran, rocked in recent months by protests over the death of young girl Mahsa Amini, after she was arrested for not wearing the Islamic veil properly.
These protests had a strong feminist component, with many Iranians removing their headscarves and even burning them.
The protests, however, waned considerably after the executions of four protesters and in recent weeks there have been virtually no protests on the streets of Iran. EFE
ssia/pamp