We Are Not a Conspiracy Theory”: The Fight for Justice in Iran’s Poisoned Schools
The Fight for Justice in Iran’s Poisoned Schools
Thousands of Iranian schoolgirls have been mysteriously poisoned—why is the world silent? Survivors demand answers as authorities dismiss their suffering as “mass hysteria.” Here’s what the evidence shows.
1. The Attacks: A Timeline of Terror
Between late 2022 and 2024, Iran witnessed a wave of chemical attacks targeting schoolgirls across the country. Over 12,000 students, primarily girls aged 10 to 17, reported symptoms such as nausea, paralysis, shortness of breath, and seizures after inhaling “sweet-smelling” chemical fumes in their classrooms.
The earliest reported cases emerged in the religious city of Qom, soon spreading to Borujerd, Tehran, and other protest-prone regions. The pattern suggested a deliberate and coordinated campaign. Many of the affected schools were in areas with active demonstrations against compulsory hijab laws and other forms of gender-based repression.
Iranian authorities responded with denial, obfuscation, and deflection. Government spokespeople blamed “enemy sabotage,” psychological stress, or even viral hysteria. In many cases, schools were closed not to protect students but to contain public outrage.
UN experts condemned the Iranian government’s failure to investigate or protect schoolchildren.
BBC Persian documented survivor testimonies, with students recalling collapsing during class and being silenced afterward.
2. Chemical Warfare or Silencing Dissent?
Independent toxicology reports suggest that these were not isolated incidents or panic-induced illnesses. Blood samples analysed by laboratories abroad confirmed the presence of organophosphates—compounds commonly used in nerve agents and pesticides (Iran International).
The targeting was strikingly gendered and political: 93% of the incidents involved girls' schools. Human Rights Watch observed that many attacks occurred in areas with a history of feminist activism, including opposition to mandatory veiling laws (HRW).
Despite mounting evidence, the international response has been muted. The United Nations Security Council has not issued a resolution, and Western governments have largely avoided placing pressure on Tehran. The silence has emboldened those attempting to suppress Iran’s women’s movement through fear and physical harm.
3. Mothers on the Front Lines
The fight for justice has fallen to the families of the victims. Parents—especially mothers—have organised protests outside schools, hospitals, and government offices demanding accountability. Footage from VOA Persian shows security forces violently dispersing these gatherings, with some parents arrested on charges of “disturbing public order.”
Students themselves are being forced into silence. In multiple cases, girls were coerced into signing false statements declaring their illness a result of “mass hysteria,” according to Radio Farda.
The state’s response illustrates a broader pattern: rather than protect victims, the government focuses on discrediting them.
4. How to Break the Silence
Iran’s school poisonings represent a disturbing fusion of science, politics, and gender-based violence. And yet, the lack of forensic transparency continues to obscure the truth.
Several groups have taken steps to fill the gap. Independent toxicologists have begun crowdfunding efforts to analyse exposure chemicals, as seen on GoFundMe. Human rights organisations are demanding accountability through sanctions and international pressure campaigns, including proposed EU blacklists of Iranian officials (EEAS).
Artists in exile have also created haunting visual animations depicting the poisonings, using art to bypass censorship and raise awareness. Their work is circulated widely on platforms like IranWire.
Conclusion: These Girls Are Not Hysterical
Iran’s poisoned schoolgirls are not fabrications or statistics. They are real children subjected to chemical attacks in classrooms—punished for daring to demand education, autonomy, and justice.
The chemical traces in their blood tell one story. The silence of their government tells another. But the most damning silence may be global. Without a meaningful international response, these attacks risk becoming a permanent tool of repression—weaponised against the next generation.