In Iran, 1,200 university students died of food poisoning the night before a wave of anti-regime protests across the country.
Students at Kharezmi and Ark universities experienced vomiting, severe body pains and hallucinations, according to the National Union of Students claimed on Thursday.
At least four other universities have reported similar illnesses. In response, infected students are reportedly boycotting coffee shops.
While authorities cited bacteria in the water as the cause of the disturbing symptoms, the student union suggested that residents had been deliberately poisoned.
“Our past experience at Isfahan University disproves the authorities’ reasons for mass food poisoning,” the group wrote on Telegram.
Some university clinics were closed or out of stock to treat dehydration fueled rumors of plans to crack down on a three-day strike in response to claims the Iranian regime has shut down its controversial morality police, Arab News reported.
The morality police, officially known as Gasht-e Ershad, or ‘Guidance Patrol’, was established in 2006 to enforce a strict dress code for women in the district. A dress code introduced after the 1979 revolution requires all women to wear a hijab in public.
The group came under fire after the death of 22-year-old student Mahsa Amini in police custody in September. Amini, an aspiring law student, was arrested for revealing part of her hair in her hijab.
Amini’s unexplained death sparked mass protests led by women across the country. In addition to the high street shows, celebrities such as actresses Hengame Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi have been sharing their headscarves in public.
During the brief World Cup in Iran last month, players and fans even refused to sing the national anthem.
However, despite the widespread movement, the Iranian regime has yielded little to public pressure. After the initial reports that the ethics police were terminated, explanations quickly spread that the decision could not be officially confirmed.
Among the reports of food poisoning is Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad shared a picture tweets from an entertainment center employee who works without a hijab.
“Tehnron prosecutor’s office opened a case against him,” Alinejad wrote.
“[The] the moral police has not been abolished. It was completely false.â€
.