Nearly 80 female students from an elementary school were reportedly poisoned and hospitalized in the Sangcharak district of Afghanistan, CNN reports, citing Mohammad Rahmani, the head of the education department in the northern province of Sar-e-Pul.
The police department is conducting an investigation, and the motive of the perpetrators and the potential type of poison used against the students remain unclear.
Seventeen students from one Afghan school reported feeling unwell, followed by an additional 60 students from a neighboring village who also experienced poor health.
"Upon arriving at school in the morning, the female students suddenly experienced dizziness and nausea. They were subsequently hospitalized in a local facility, while 14 individuals in critical condition were transferred to a hospital in the provincial capital.", said Rahmani.
According to a doctor from Sar-e-Pul Hospital, some of the girls were hospitalized, and the doctor believes they were poisoned based on their symptoms.
The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021 sparked concerns over girls' education, following the enactment of a new law prohibiting girls from receiving an education.
Although international pressure reluctantly compelled the Taliban to allow girls to attend primary schools, these limited educational opportunities only extend until around the age of 12.
Under the previous government, supported by foreign powers, there was a tragic incident in 2012 where over 170 women and girls fell ill after consuming contaminated water at a school. Extremist groups vehemently opposed to expanding women's rights and opportunities through education, were held accountable for these abhorrent acts.
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