THERE is growing public concern and widespread anger in Iran following reports that hundreds of schoolgirls have been poisoned in a series of mysterious gas attacks on schools across the country, raising fears that militant religious groups have begun waging a new violent campaign against the education of women and girls there. 

This spate of reported attacks first came to attention back in November, amid the nationwide popular protests under the banner of “Woman, Life, Freedom,” in the holy city of Qom — the centre for Iran’s clerical establishment and base for its senior leaders — but was kept from the public on the insistence of the authorities, according to Iranian news media.

However, the news has been catapulted into the headlines over this past week following the poisoning of scores of schoolgirls in attacks that appear to have spread to other Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran.