Hundreds of school girls in Iran are suspected to be poisoned with gas, leading to an outcry among many within and outside Iran. According to several sources including the BBC, more than 1000 school students, mostly girls, have been poisoned by toxic gas in Iran since November when the earliest poisoning occurred in the city of Qom and many sufferred various problems including respiratory problems, nausea, dizziness and fatigue, though no school students have died of the gas poison yet. The gas poisoning has occurred in dozens of high schools in several cities —across four different provinces of Iran — including Tehran. But neither the causes of the gas poisoning were identified nor were the culprits brought to justice.
It is pertinently notable that there are controversial claims on gas poisoning. The concerned Iranian authority has not clarified the matter yet but many doubt that it is a deliberate attempt to force schools to be shut down. Many others also consider it to be caused by the regime because of the participation of many school girls in the widespread Mahsa Amini Protest Movement for months. Some others think that religious groups may be attempting to prevent the education of women and girls in Iran. Given that many school girls have been recently targeted because of their participation in the recent movement, the claim of the deliberate attempt of gas poisoning is not unsurprising altogether. Yet, the exact causes of it remain unclear.
But no measure has been taken by the authority to end gas poisoning, though it has been going on — persistently — for several months. The positive aspect is that gas poisoning is being investigated by the concerned authority. But the repeated incidents have forced many to protest in Iran and left parents worried about sending their children to school. It is desired that effective measures are taken to end gas poisoning in the Middle East country immediately. Investigations need to be carried out to find out the exact causes of gas poisoning and identify those who are responsible for it. It is also desired that culprits connected with gas poisonings are brought to justice.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
