Iran: The torture of Kurdish political prisoner Zeynab Jalalian at the hands of Iranian Ministry of Intelligence comes to light. CFWIJ expresses its utmost concern.

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February 2, 2021, Yazd — The Coalition For Women In Journalism is horrified at the ongoing torture of Zeynab Jalalian as her health continues to deteriorate.

Zeynab was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to death under the charge of Moharebeh, meaning enmity against God. She was arrested for her alleged membership to the Party for Free Life in Kurdistan (PJAK), an armed Kurdish opposition group. In December 2011, her sentence was reduced to life imprisonment. Zeynab denies the allegations against her, despite enduring years of torture in prison.

Zeynab has had a turbulent medical history during her time in confinement. She has suffered from internal bleeding, intestinal infections, and a case of chronic conjunctivitis, to which the prison authorities refused to provide adequate medical attention. As a result of the authorities’ negligence, her health has deteriorated over the years. In fact, in November 2020, Amnesty International ran a campaign to save her sight, which they claim has been impacted after sustaining injuries to the head. 

Now, three months later, Amnesty International has accused the Ministry of Intelligence in Iran of deliberately denying Zeynab the medical care she needs as a torture tactic to extort a videotaped confession. Her precarious condition further worsened by post-Covid breathing difficulties. Concerned for Zeyneb’s well-being, Amnesty International has urged their readers to write to Ebrahim Raisi in a desperate effort to salvage her health. A model letter is available on their website for their audience to access and lend support.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the barbaric actions of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and prison authorities. Healthcare is a human right, and its denial must be considered criminal. Any efforts to coerce a false confession out of political prisoners is reprehensible and deserving of international criticism.