Over 150 Afghan schoolgirls and female teachers were poisoned after drinking contaminated water at a high school.

Officials claim that this was a deliberate attack by conservative radicals who are opposed to education for women.

“We are 100 percent sure that the water they drunk inside their classes was poisoned. This is either the work of those who are against girls’ education or irresponsible armed individuals,” confirms Jan Mohammad Nabizada, a spokesman for the education department.

Officials are certain that the water has been poisoned after discovery that the larger tank used to fill the water jugs were not contaminated.

“This is not a natural illness. It’s an intentional act to poison schoolgirls,” explains a public health official.

While no deaths were reported, some of the girls lost consciousness and are in critical condition, while some are now able to go home.

Education for women was banned by the Taliban government from 1996-2001, claiming that the practice was un-Islamic.

Since the Taliban was removed from power in 2001, girls have started returning to schools. Unfortunately, regular attacks still occur against female students and teachers.

For more information on female education in Afghanistan, watch the amazing feature below.