The mysterious case of schoolgirl poisoning that has been shocking for weeks Irantook on new proportions today after dozens of young girls were taken to the hospital. These attacks are attributed by the authorities to “people” who disagree with the upbringing of women..

About 35 students from the Khayyam Girls’ High School in Pardis city, Tehran province, were taken to hospital because they were not feeling well this morning, the Tasnim news agency reported. Their condition is not considered alarming. Girls inhaled an unknown substance at their school.

The mass poisonings began in late November when Iranian media reported that girls as young as 10 had inhaled the mysterious gases at their school in the holy city of Qom. Some children required short-term hospitalization.

The poisonings are caused by “certain individuals” who seek to “close all schools, especially girls’ schools,” the health minister said Sunday. For this, “commercially available chemicals” are used, he added, ruling out the use of “military” materials.

This case caused outrage in the country, and some condemn the silence of the authorities, despite the fact that the number of schools under attack is increasing. National Police Chief Ahmadreza Radan announced today that his forces are investigating to identify the suspects. So far, no arrests have been made.

The Fars news agency reported that the Parliament will hold an emergency meeting to discuss the case with the participation of the Ministers of Education, Information and Health.

“Fanatical Half-Bloods”

Activists compared the attackers to the Afghan Taliban and Boko Haram jihadists in West Africa, who oppose the education of girls. Komsomol deputy Ahmad Amiri Farahani called them “absurd” and clarified that the inhabitants of the holy city “are in favor of women’s education.”

Education is compulsory for all Iran and in fact in universities the majority of students are women. Former reformist vice president Masoume Embtekar today called on the authorities to “end once and for all the fanatical half-breeds.”

Such attacks have occurred in more than 30 schools in at least four cities, prompting some parents to withdraw their children from school. According to state media, in addition to girls’ schools, a boys’ school in the town of Borujerd was targeted.

According to APE-MPE, AFP and Reuters.