Approximately 80 girls were poisoned and hospitalised in two separate attacks at primary schools in Sar-e-Pul province, northern Afghanistan, it was confirmed by a local education official on Sunday 4th June 2023.
According to Mohammad Rahmani, the head of the provincial education department, the person responsible for the poisonings had a personal grudge, although further details were not provided.
Rahmani also stated that the victims’ ages range from grades one to six.
60 students were affected in Naswan-e-Kabod Aab school, while 17 students were poisoned in the nearby Naswan-e-Faizabad school.
The education official immediately transferred the affected students to nearby hospitals, where they received medical treatment.
This incident marks the first reported occurrence of such assaults since the Taliban assumed power in August 2021, following their renewed control over the country.
Since then, the Taliban’s policies and actions have severely curtailed the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls. However, no connection between these poisonings and the Taliban’s rise to power has been established at this time.
Since November of last year, Iran has experienced a series of poisonings primarily occurring in girls’ schools. Thousands of students reported falling ill due to the inhalation of harmful fumes during these incidents. However, there is currently no information available regarding the responsible parties or the specific chemicals used in these cases.
The initial investigation by the provincial education department suggested that the assailant paid a third party to carry out the attacks. However, specific details regarding the method of poisoning or the injuries sustained by the girls have not been disclosed.
