On Monday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader has called for the executioner of schoolgirl poisonings to be punished as attacks spread across the country. Khamenei said the poisonings are a “major and unforgivable crime” and the culprits must confront the “harshest punishment” for incidents that have extended worry among parents and throughout Iranian society.
If there are people who have a hand in this – and there are those that undoubtedly do in some way – then responsible organizations, including intelligence and law enforcement, need to find the origin of this crime.”
Khamenei said.
Khamenei showed no indication as to who or what groups may be behind the poisonings. Soon after Khamenei’s comments, Iran’s judiciary chief promised the courts will act swiftly and suggested those responsible would confront the death sentence.
Based on the definition that the law has, the perpetrators are undoubtedly guilty of ‘corruption on earth’.”
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, referencing a formal charge the Iranian judiciary uses that carries a death sentence.
The attacks increased over the past week across Iran after the case received increasing media attention inside and outside Iran, and a health official said the poisonings were intentional attempts at preserving girls from going to school. Authorities have not delivered any figures, but many incidents likely concerning several thousand students have been reported.
The incidents abide by the same hallmarks, mostly impacting schoolgirls who experience symptoms including shortness of breath, headaches, nausea, heart palpitations, and numbness of the limbs. Some victims reported smelling strange odors such as rotten fruit, strong perfumes, or a burning smell.
The interior ministry said in a statement last week it found “suspicious samples” at the schools and investigation results will be announced at a later date. The driver of a truck moving chemicals that were seen near several affected schools has been arrested.
On Sunday, State media reported that Ali Pourtabatabaei, a journalist covering news in Qom who was following up on the attacks, has been arrested. Khamenei’s statements could potentially put an end to a wide variety of reasons provided by some officials, lawmakers, and media outlets for the poisonings, including speculation of “mass hysteria”.
The supreme leader, however, did not discuss whether the poisonings were initiated from inside or outside the country. President Ebrahim Raisi has condemned a “conspiracy” by the foreign rivals of the Islamic Republic.
