Zeinab Jalalian, a Kurdish woman, has spent 16 years in prison in Iran and is now entering her 17th year of imprisonment. She is the longest-held and only female political prisoner with a life sentence in Iran. During her imprisonment, she was tortured and deprived of her right to leave, even for medical treatment. She has also been illegally and violently moved between different prisons. This report presents the current situation of Zeinab Jalalian in Yazd prison.
Prison Transfers
Zeinab Jalalian was arrested in Kermanshah on February 26, 2008, and is currently being held in Yazd prison. However, this Kurdish woman has been illegally and violently moved between different prisons.
About six months before her transfer to Yazd prison, she was suddenly and without any reason given by the security agents transferred from Khoy prison to Qarchak prison. She was then transferred to Kerman prison after a hunger strike with Covid-19 and requested to return to Khoy prison in West Azerbaijan Province, NW Iran. She was then transferred to Kermanshah prison, despite the officials of Kermanshah Women’s Prison refusing to take her in initially due to her serious health condition.
Health Condition
Zeinab Jalalian was infected with Covid-19 for a second time in Yazd Prison and has developed lung and asthma problems during her recovery due to a lack of medical care. Her physical condition and health have deteriorated due to her previous diseases, including kidney and digestive problems, oral thrush, eye pterygium, poor eyesight, tooth infection, etc. Despite her deteriorating physical condition, she was kept for a long time in a public room with people with addictions and very bad health conditions and without necessary medical care.
Family Visits and Communication
Zeinab Jalalian has not been able to meet her family for the past two and a half years due to the distance between Yazd and her family’s residence in Maku and the restrictions imposed by the security agencies. Her phone calls have also been limited to once a week and only with her parents. The agents of the intelligence department in Yazd prison have met with this Kurdish woman and warned her that if any information is leaked about her condition through her and her family to the media, they will intensify the pressure and transfer her to another prison.
Legal Status
According to Zeinab Jalalian’s lawyers, based on the new Islamic Penal Law approved in 2013, her continued imprisonment is against the law and should be released.
Arrest of Family Members
Security agents in Maku arrested Zeinab Jalalian’s mother, father, and three brothers named Pasha, Ibrahim, and Yousef last March in response to a video message sent by Guzel Hajizadeh, Zeinab Jalalian’s mother, about her daughter’s condition.
Although the family members were released after one day and night, the Intelligence Department warned them about any information and interviews with human rights organizations and the media about Zeinab Jalalian’s condition. The security agents also asked the family of this Kurdish woman to speak against her activities and Kurdish opposition parties in a video interview, which was rejected by their strong reaction.
Call to free Zeinab Jalalian
Zeinab Jalalian’s 17th Nowruz in prison is a reminder of her continued imprisonment and violation of her human rights. Despite her deteriorating health condition, she has been deprived of necessary medical care, family visits, and communication. Her family members have also been subjected to intimidation and harassment by security agents. The Iranian authorities must release Zeinab Jalalian immediately, and her human rights and dignity must be respected.
