Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the culprits of the mysterious poisonings at girls' schools should be sentenced to death for the "unforgivable crime" if they are found to be deliberate.
Hundreds of children have been poisoned since late last year, with Iranian authorities acknowledging suspected attacks at over 50 schools across 21 of Iran's 31 provinces. Iranian media reports put the number at over 60, with at least one boys' school reportedly also affected.
OVER 1,000 IRANIAN STUDENTS SUFFER 'POISONING' AHEAD OF MASS PROTESTS
"If the poisoning of students is proven, those behind this crime should be sentenced to capital punishment and there will be no amnesty for them," Khamenei said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency per CBS News.
This is the first time the supreme leader, who has the final say on all state matters, has publicly commented on the poisonings. They were only acknowledged by Iranian officials in recent weeks. No details relating to the protests have been provided on who may be behind the poisonings or what chemicals, if any, were used.
Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said "suspicious samples" have been collected and asked the public to remain calm while the poisonings are investigated.
Children have reportedly complained of headaches, feeling lethargic or unable to move, and heart palpitations, as well as smelling cleaning agents, chlorine, or tangerines. Two girls remain in the hospital with chronic conditions and no fatalities have been reported, Vahidi said.
While Iran has no history of religious extremists targeting women's education, some politicians blame the groups for the poisonings.
This is not Iran's first experience with large-scale poisonings. After a series of protests broke out over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in custody in September 2022 after not adhering to Iran's strict dress code, over 1,000 students were struck with food poisoning — the night before a large protest was set to take place in December.
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Iran's strict restrictions on media since the protests have made it difficult to narrow down the nature and scope of the poisonings. Recently, schoolgirls have reportedly been joining the protests for Amini, for which they are now "paying the price," according to New York-based Iranian activist Masih Alinejad.
"Now the girls of Iran are paying the price for fighting against the compulsory hijab and have been poisoned by the government," Alinejad said.