Iran to investigate journalists, activists, politicians over school poison attacks

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Tehran prosecutor on Tuesday launched an investigation into a number of newspapers and media outlets they claim spread false information about the rise in poison attacks targeting schoolgirls across the country, a day after the Supreme Leader called for maximum punishment for those behind the attacks. 

The mysterious poison attacks have affected dozens of schools across the country in the past three months with hundreds of students in need of medical care following the attacks which causes dizziness, breathlessness, and a feeling of nausea.

Parents have staged protests in recent days but the number grew on Tuesday as people gathered in several cities, demanding answers and explanations from the authorities. 

The authorities have failed to identify a single perpetrator of the attacks despite numerous intelligence agencies reportedly investigating the issue. However, on Sunday the authorities detained a journalist covering the attacks in the city of Qom, the same place where they began in early December, indicating that more arrests will be carried out to avoid negative publicity for the regime. 

“I would also like to briefly talk about an issue that has been taking place recently, and that is the issue of – some are saying - the poisoning of students,” Khamenei said on Monday.

“This is an important issue … If there are people involved in this – and undoubtedly there are certain people involved somehow – the responsible organizations, the intelligence and law enforcement agencies, they must investigate this matter and find the source of this crime, both the perpetrators and all those who are involved.”

Iranian security and intelligence agencies are often quick in parading perpetrators of security crimes on television as they have done for the nationwide anti-government protest that have rocked the country since mid-September following the death of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini. 

Security forces detained thousands of protesters and killed at least 530 protesters and bystanders since September according to human rights organizations.

Speeches by Khamenei on matters of national importance are perceived as an indication of a call to action by the state and security and intelligence agencies. Shortly after the speech, the head of the judiciary Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei said those behind the attacks are “corrupt on earth” a charge that could carry the death penalty. The judiciary chief also added that a trial will be held for the perpetrators when they are arrested.

Less than 24 hours after the speech by Khamenei, the Tehran prosecutor repeated the signals mentioned by Khamenei and said investigations have been opened against actors, politicians, professors and at least three media outlets.

“In the past week we have opened judicial investigations and leveled charges against the managers of media outlets Hammihan, Rouydad24 and Shargh as well las individuals including Azar mansouri [reformist politician], [Professor] Sadegh Zibakalam and Reza Kianian [actor],” Tehran prosecutor Ali Salehi was reported as saying by the judiciary official news agency Mizanonline.

“Those who spread falsehood and rumors and threaten the psychological security of the citizens and the families will be monitored by the security, law enforcement and judicial agencies and they will be dealt with in a decisive and legal way,” Salehi added.

Salehi added that the intelligence and security forces are working day and night to identify those behind the attacks, but failed to say if they have made any progress.

Protests continued across Iran on Tuesday in response to the gas attacks in Sanandaj, Mahabad, Mashhad, Rasht, and Shiraz with parents shouting “dishonorable” and calling the officials incompetent.

“If you claim that you are not behind these poisoning attacks and it is the work of the foreigners,” a student lashed out at hardliner Saeed Jalili who was speaking at Shaheed Chamran University in Ahwaz on Monday. “Then with all due respect, you are very incompetent because you cannot maintain the security of the children.”