In the past three months, hundreds of cases of respiratory distress have been reported among Iranian schoolgirls, mainly in the city of Qom, south of Tehran; some of them needed hospital treatment. On Sunday, a government official declared that the attacks were likely orchestrated to force the closure of Girls schools.

We must pray that this suppression of women will not happen.

On Sunday, female students in Borujerd were urgently transported to a medical facility, after experiencing symptoms similar to those reported earlier in the week at the same location.

The poisonings have been occurring months after protests spread across Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died while in custody of the police. Mahsa was arrested for allegedly violating the country’s extremely strict dress code for women, prompting an outcry to end the restrictive code enforced by the morality police.

On Tuesday, Iran’s parliament held a meeting to discuss the suspected attacks with Health Minister, Bahram Eynollahi, in attendance. So far, however, no arrests have been made in response to the poisonings.

Activists have compared the alleged perpetrators of the attacks to infamous terror organizations, such as the Taliban in Afghanistan and Boko Haram in the Sahel, both of which are notorious for their vehement opposition to providing young girls with educational opportunities.

Although a judicial investigation has been conducted and the Qom government has denounced the suspected attacks, there have been repeated poisonings at Girls schools. We need to pray that all of Iran and the misogynistic fanatics will be transformed by the freedom, grace, and mercy found in the Lord Jesus Christ.