Iran has condemned the recent mass abduction of female students in Nigeria as part of an Islamophobia campaign and called for immediate efforts to release the girls.

In a Friday statement, the Iranian vice president for Women and Family Affairs condemned such “acts of extremism as well as violent and inhumane actions” and Islamophobia as “two sides of the same coin.”

The statement underlined the necessity of education and training for women as the prerequisite to eradicate poverty, hunger and disease from all societies, expressing optimism that the humanity will witness a world free of violence and extremism.

On April 15, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 teenage girls from Chibok school in Borno State. Security forces say 223 remain missing after 53 girls managed to escape.

The abduction of the girls triggered an international outcry and protests in Nigeria, piling pressure on the government to bring the girls back.

On May 6, the UN human rights office issued a statement, voicing concern that the missing girls may have been sold into slavery. It added that such a move is banned under international law and may constitute a crime against humanity.

The relatives of the missing girls have staged protests against the Nigerian government over its failure to do enough to rescue their loved ones.

Boko Haram -- whose name means “Western education is forbidden” -- says its goal is to overthrow the Nigerian government.

It has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly gun and bomb attacks in various parts of Nigeria since 2009.