Additional Name(s): Zeinab Jalalian, زینب جلالیان

Gender: Female

Perpetrator: Iran

Ethnic Group: Kurd

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Health Concerns: intestinal and kidney infections, internal bleeding, difficulty walking, an eye condition

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: Originally Death; Commuted to Life Imprisonment through Clemency

Date of Detainment: March//2008

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Women’s Rights

Nature of Charges: Miscellaneous Religious Crimes

Zeynab Jalalian

Extra Bio Info:

Zeynab Jalalian is imprisoned on religiously oriented charges.

In March 2008, security officials violently arrested Jalalian reportedly in relation to her social and political activism for Kurdish women. Authorities reportedly interrogated Jalaian about her alleged involvement in the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (Party Jiani Azadi Kurdistan or PJAK). Jalalian was subjected to torture, verbal and physical abuse, and threats of blackmail and sexual violence while detained.

In December 2008, Jalalian’s trial began before Branch 1 of the Kermanshah Revolutionary Court on a range of charges including the religiously sanctioned “Moharebeh (Enmity against God)” (Art. 279-285+ IPC).

On an unspecified date, Branch 1 of the Kermanshah Revolutionary Court sentenced Jalalian to death.

In May 2009, Branch 4 of the Kermanshah Court of Appeal upheld Jalalian’s sentence.

In December 2011, the Supreme Leader granted Jalalian clemency and commuted her sentence to life imprisonment.

In April 2016, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for Jalalian’s immediate release.

Jalalian is believed to have suffered from intestinal and kidney infections, internal bleeding, and difficulty walking.  She also suffers from an eye condition. Jalalian has been denied adequate medical care and has been forced to live in inhumane living conditions.

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