Regrettably, the world was shaken on March 1st, 4th, 5th, 6h, and 7th 2023, as the Islamic Republic of Iran reportedly carried out a heinous series of chemical attacks targeting no less than 450 schools in more than 29 provinces. The scale of this devastating assault is truly chilling, with a staggering 90% of the affected schools being those that educate young girls. The ramifications of such a reprehensible act are yet to be fully comprehended, and the global community is left to grapple with the sinister implications of this cowardly and inhumane assault.
The harrowing video captures the heart-wrenching cries of a young girl desperately gasping for air, repeatedly uttering the haunting words, “I can not breathe, I can not breathe…”:
«نفسم دیگه بالا نمیاد» #icantbreathe #حمله_شیمیایی_به_مدارس pic.twitter.com/eyOjLT3Zub
— مملکته (@mamlekate) March 4, 2023
Scale of the attacks
The past few weeks have been an unmitigated nightmare for students across Iran, with a particular emphasis on the young girls of the nation. The scourge of chemical gas attacks has descended upon countless schools throughout the country, with the horrifying results being the poisoning of innocent students. The true magnitude of these atrocities was unleashed upon the nation on March 1st, 4th, and 5th, 2023, as over 450 schools in more than 29 provinces were relentlessly attacked, leaving a staggering 5000 students hospitalized. The scale of this depravity is simply unimaginable, and its devastating impact is felt across the nation. Even more alarmingly, the distribution of these attacks is vividly depicted in a map, revealing the deeply unsettling scope of this humanitarian crisis.
The brazen and large-scale nature of the attacks on Iranian schools is deeply concerning. The fact that the vast majority of these attacks occurred on the same day across multiple provinces of the country is alarming, to say the least. Given that Iran is an immense country, it is all the more troubling to consider the magnitude of such a coordinated effort. The sheer impossibility of small military organizations to orchestrate such a widespread and devastating assault across Iran underscores the ominous and sinister implications of these attacks. The ramifications of this crisis cannot be overstated, and it is essential that the global community unites in response to this heinous act of violence.
Government forces prevented journalists from accessing security cameras
The disturbing reports emerging from Iran suggest that the authorities, predominantly comprising IRGC forces, have actively prevented journalists from accessing security camera footage of the attacked schools and surrounding areas. Equally alarming are the claims made by school officials, asserting that there is no evidence of any attacker captured on the video tapes of the security cameras. The confluence of these two reports reinforces the chilling theory that this chemical gas was dispersed using drones, with the chemicals potentially contained within a bomb. This harrowing prospect underscores the unprecedented and unprecedentedly horrific nature of these attacks, as well as the crucial need for the international community to stand in solidarity against such atrocities. The suppression of evidence only adds to the gravity of this situation and necessitates an urgent and unyielding pursuit of the truth.
The students’ account of today’s poisoning in a girls’ school in Tehran: “The school officials said we will not let you out of the school, then they cut the school phone and said you have no right to call your parents.”pic.twitter.com/eq3MsilW8s
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 1, 2023
The chemicals used in the attacks is are not accessible for normal people
In a recent interview with Hamamihan newspaper, Mohammadreza Hashemian, an expert in the special care department of “Masih Deneshvari” hospital in Tehran, emphasized the gravity of the situation and stated that it is impossible for ordinary individuals to obtain access to the chemical gases that were utilized to poison innocent students. This assertion only serves to heighten the deeply unsettling nature of these attacks, as it reinforces the likelihood that they were carried out by a sophisticated and well-resourced actor, the IRGC.
An Iranian doctor says he fears the chemical attacks against schoolgirls are being led by regime authorities, as the gases used to poison the students are a combination of different chemicals, which it is “not possible for ordinary people” to access.https://t.co/Av2weAXqJG pic.twitter.com/uDRgPRe4fp
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 5, 2023
Beating of poisoned students and their parents by government forces instead of protecting students
The situation in Iran has taken an alarming turn, with reports emerging of brutal suppression of protestors by the IRGC and Basiji forces. These forces have reportedly resorted to violent measures, including beating, arresting, and even kidnapping the students and their parents who were demonstrating against the chemical attacks on schools. Shockingly, the IRGC forces have even contacted some of the students who were chemically attacked and issued ultimatums via social media, ordering them to report to the Morals and Security Police within a day.
Unbelievable. Today, the Islamist regime in Iran deliberately poisoned more girls’ schools.
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) March 4, 2023
In this video, girls crying for help are seen violently arrested by the regime.
Iranian girls are being poisoned by a misogynistic regime. They can’t breathe. pic.twitter.com/TN1m6tpsQa
My heart is broken; I received this video from the parents of a student in Tehran. This is the true face of Iranian regime which use chemical weapons to poison schoolgirls and then arrest this frustrated mom for peacefully protesting against the attacks. pic.twitter.com/8dtfL427qD… https://t.co/mT1YQpeJhY
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) March 1, 2023
They have contacted the students of some of the schools they have chemically attacked whose news was published on social media, saying you must come to the Morals and Security Police tomorrow!
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 5, 2023
ویدئوی دریافتی:
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) March 5, 2023
ضرب و شتم و دستگیری مرد و زن معترض به مسمومیتهای سریالی دانشآموزان در تهران به خوبی ماهیت داعشی جمهوری اسلامی را نشان میدهد.
جرم این دو نفر که به این شکل وحشیانه دستگیر شدند، این بود که مقابل اداره آموزش و پرورش رفتند و گفتند دختران مدرسهای را مسموم نکنید. pic.twitter.com/L6ZJHPr9Bc
No schools were closed, not even the ones that were attacked twice
The callous disregard for the welfare of students in Iran is both shocking and deeply concerning. Despite the fact that at least two schools were attacked twice, no action was taken to close them and protect the students. Moreover, despite the widespread nature of these attacks, which resulted in the poisoning of over 2000 students, government officials have astonishingly downplayed the gravity of the situation, stating that the poisoning is not a significant concern and is primarily due to hysteria.
The claims made by Iranian officials regarding the source of the attacks on schools are both perplexing and deeply concerning. The suggestion that the attacks were carried out by an “Enemy” raises the question of who this supposed enemy could be and how they could coordinate such a widespread and coordinated campaign of violence. The lack of clarity and transparency regarding the origin of these attacks only serves to exacerbate the fear and anxiety felt by Iranian citizens, who are rightly demanding answers and accountability from their government.
Faced with international outcry for inaction over the chemical gas attacks on school and university girls, the Islamic Republic authorities have started to blame them on “enemies.”https://t.co/k7CbRUOWPf pic.twitter.com/zPXyk8CESb
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 4, 2023
Furthermore, the suggestion by a member of the IR parliament that these attacks could have been orchestrated by school teachers is not only unfounded but also serves to deflect blame away from those who are truly responsible. Such baseless and inflammatory statements only contribute to the erosion of trust in the government and further fuel the sense of outrage and frustration felt by Iranians across the country.
علیرضا نظری، نماینده خمین، مسمومیت گسترده دانشآموزان را توطئهای از طرف دشمنان دانست و با اتهامزنی به معلمان گفت: «ممکن است برخی از معلمان پشت قضیه باشند و دور از ذهن نیست.»
— ايران اينترنشنال (@IranIntl) March 5, 2023
او مدعی شد دشمنان میخواهند از طریق مسموم کردن دانشآموزان به جمهوری اسلامی لطمه بزنند. pic.twitter.com/OVOKaET3hU
The various and contradictory claims made by Iranian officials regarding the cause of the attacks on schools are not only confusing but also deeply troubling. The suggestion that these attacks were orchestrated by the United Kingdom is unfounded and lacks any evidence. Furthermore, the idea that the antics of students could have led to such widespread poisoning is both absurd and offensive, particularly given the seriousness of the situation.
خبرگزاری فارس، وابسته به سپاه، مطلبی با عنوان «شیطنت نوجوانانه پررنگترین فرضیه» درباره حملات شیمیایی به مدارس سراسر کشور منتشر کرد. این خبرگزاری نوشت «کارشناسان و متخصصان دو فرضیه را در این خصوص پررنگتر میدانند یکی احتمال شیطنت نوجوانانه در داخل مدارس و دیگری ترس جمعی است.» pic.twitter.com/dOU4jHAi7V
— ايران اينترنشنال (@IranIntl) March 5, 2023
Khameneie’s speech about punishing teenager protestors
Ali Khamenei has stated in one of his speeches on Oct 3rd that the teenager who are protesting on the streets and schools should be punished.
Do you know what is the motive behind the poisoning of school girls in Iran?
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) March 3, 2023
Listen to this speech of Ali Khamenei after the killing of Mahsa Zhina Amini, on Oct 3rd, two weeks after she was killed.
He says, we must “punish” these teenagers.
This is how they are punishing the… https://t.co/lzJFVZaxJ2 pic.twitter.com/eAOiwBRVyN
Some school officials prevented students from leaving after the chemical attack
In some of the schools, school administrators prohibited students from leaving the premises and withheld their right to contact their parents.
March 4, Hamedan.
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 4, 2023
Message: “The children’s condition was very bad. At first they wouldn’t let us leave class. They didn’t let parents enter. 1 hour before the incident, Basijis entered the school. They wouldn’t let us speak or stay in the yard. very scary”pic.twitter.com/rBKkp8c2qT
Additionally, some students have observed plainclothes agents in their schools.
In most of the schools where students have been poisoned, before inhaling the gas, students have seen plainclothes agents in the school yard. Also, in these schools, it is reported that the people sitting next to the windows facing the yard suffered the most severe poisoning.
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 1, 2023
After public outrage and criticism even by some Iranian regime loyalists, four men – apparently plainclothes forces – accused of viciously beating a woman in Tehran were arrested.https://t.co/zdF03vKoRv pic.twitter.com/DSL5gD8PxW
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 5, 2023
As depicted in the subsequent video footage, school officials are employing physical violence to impede students from exiting the premises.
دانشآموزان فریاد میزنند: نمیخوایم بمیریم…
— +۱۵۰۰تصویر (@1500tasvir) March 5, 2023
مدرسه هنرستان فاطمیه همدان یکشنبه ۱۴ اسفند pic.twitter.com/dXBq5X8VID
Status of the poisoned students
The majority of the students who were exposed to the harmful chemicals have been hospitalized and are presently in a precarious state. According to DrKayvanMirhadi, as articulated in the following video, the students are currently exhibiting short-term symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, altered sensorium, and weakness in the lower extremities, and may develop long-term health complications, including a heightened risk of cancer and infertility.
A team up with @DrKayvanMirhadi to show you what’s behind girls dying and 1,200 hospitalised in Iran. An unprecedented chemical attack by the #IRI on girls-only schools as revenge for the #WomanLifeFreedom movement.
— Omid Djalili (@omid9) March 4, 2023
🚨 Urgent action needed.
Do please share #IranRevoIution pic.twitter.com/rBkbMEnSNo
Additional footage of the affected students has surfaced, highlighting their critical condition and struggles with respiratory problems
March 5, 2023.
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 5, 2023
A hospital in the Khuzestan Province after the Islamic Republic’s chemical attack on schoolchildrenpic.twitter.com/UQ0SWp4mbf
“She can’t breathe!”
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 5, 2023
A hospital in the Khuzestan Province after the Islamic Republic’s chemical attack on schoolchildren pic.twitter.com/VQonlpUaI2
“Don’t panic! Don’t panic! Breathe! Breathe!”
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 4, 2023
A hospital in Kavar, Fars after the poisoning of schoolchildren.pic.twitter.com/3YcrgToO62
March 4, 2023.
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 4, 2023
Poisoning of schoolchildren in Asadabadi girls’ school in Tehran.pic.twitter.com/OIhxwLZ73V
Today, March 4, 2023; in Tohid Girls’ High School in Shahriar, the students were poisoned and taken to the hospital after smelling gas.pic.twitter.com/kaxEcioxHu
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 4, 2023
Today, 1st of March, the poisoning of students of the girls’ school for Isfahan University of Technology.pic.twitter.com/sVdnDhxfez
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 1, 2023
Today, March 1, 2023, poisoning of the students of several girls’ schools were in Ardabil.
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 1, 2023
pic.twitter.com/OWF5qX9dpb
— +۱۵۰۰تصویر (@1500tasvir) March 2, 2023
Conclusion
These unprecedented attacks on Iranian schools and dormitories raise serious concerns about the safety and well-being of Iranian students. It is highly unlikely that non-governmental organizations could have planned and executed attacks in more than 120 schools and dormitories across the country. Evidence points to the involvement of the Islamic Republic in these attacks, including:
- the presence of government agents and Basiji forces at the scene of the attacks,
- The use of inaccessible chemicals, the threat of violence against school officials and students who close or leave the school,
- The banning of journalists from accessing security camera footage
- The arrest and beating of protesting poisoned students and their parents.
There are four potential motives for these attacks:
- To spread fear and prevent further protests
- To send a message to the West that hard-line Islamist groups in Iran will act even if the current regime is toppled
- To exact revenge on school girls for their participation in the Mahsa Amini protests
- To shift the focus of people’s demands from freedom to the safety of their children and the right to education for girls.
Whatever the motive may be, these attacks on innocent students are unacceptable and must be condemned by the international community.
References
I have obtained list of the schools and most of the evidence from 1500Tasvir media.
🧵⬇️
— 1500tasvir_en (@1500tasvir_en) March 4, 2023
Schools where students were poisoned by the Islamic Republic today, March 4, 2023:
1. Rezvan girls’ school in Kermanshah
2. Tadayon Girls’ School in Ardabil
3. Kar-o Danesh Boys School in Karaj
4. Fatemeh Zahra Girls’ School in Kavar
5. Tajgardoon Girls’ School in Lahijan
🧵⬇️
— +۱۵۰۰تصویر (@1500tasvir) March 1, 2023
مدارسی که امروز دهم اسفند ۱۴۰۱ دانشآموزانش دچار مسمومیت شدهاند:
۱. تهران مدرسهی دخترانهی ۱۳ آبان
۲. تهران مدرسهیدخترانهی هاجر
۳. تهران مدرسهی دخترانهی یارجانی
۴. تهران مدرسهی دخترانهی امت
۵. تهران مدرسهی دخترانهی عصمت
۶. تهران مدرسهی دخترانهی امام حسن