The Facts
Separate attacks on two primary schools in northern Afghanistan’s Sar-e-Pul province poisoned nearly 80 girls over the weekend, according to a local education official, who said the suspect held a personal grudge but did not elaborate.
Head of the provincial education department, Mohammad Rahmani, revealed that 60 girls were poisoned in the Naswan-e-Kabod Aab School and another 17 were poisoned in the Naswan-e-Faizabad School, both in the Sangcharak district.
The Spin
Narrative A
The Taliban’s gender-based apartheid has led to an environment where women and girls are unable to participate in the basic levels of society. In addition to the draconian laws banning women from receiving an education beyond the sixth grade, the Taliban’s overall attitude towards Afghan women has enabled terrorists to attack young girls. Whether this weekend’s poisonings were state-sponsored or not, the Taliban bears responsibility for the assault on women and girls.
Narrative B
Local police and officials are investigating the revenge attack on the girls’ schools over the weekend and will make sure that the suspects are held accountable. The most important thing is that all the girls are in good condition and none were seriously harmed. This attack reminds us that terrible attacks also occur in other nations, such as Iran, where poisonings and chemical attacks are common.
