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Schoolgirls in Tehran: The recording dates from 2017, reports of possible poison attacks are currently piling up
Photo: Atta Kenare/AFP
In Iran, reports of alleged poisoning attacks on schoolgirls are increasing.
Many parents have now taken to the streets to give their children a voice.
Protests broke out in the capital Tehran and other cities.
According to media reports, hundreds of schoolgirls have complained of symptoms such as malaise, nausea or palpitations in the past few weeks and some have been taken to hospitals.
The city of Qom was particularly affected.
According to the Ministry of Health, the cases were "mild poisoning".
Some politicians have blamed Islamist extremists who oppose girls' education.
On Friday, President Ebrahim Raisi instructed the interior and intelligence ministries to investigate the poisoning cases.
He spoke of a "conspiracy by the enemy to stir up fear and despair among the population".
For months, the Iranian authorities have faced protests that began after the death of 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini.
Amini died in police custody in mid-September.
She had previously been arrested by the vice squad for allegedly wearing her headscarf incorrectly.
According to Amnesty International, protests have since killed scores.
Schoolgirls also took part in the demonstrations.
The demonstrations have become the biggest challenge for the government since the founding of the Islamic Republic.
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the US government had already expressed concern about reports of poisoned schoolgirls on Friday.
The Green politician demanded that "all cases" in the "shocking" matter had to be clarified.
Tehran reacted with criticism.
Baerbock's demand was an interference in Iran's affairs, it said.
asc/Reuters/AFP