A group of Iranian activists has called on authorities to respect the right of Zeynab Jalalian, a jailed Kurdish political activist, to medical treatment and furloughs.
In a statement signed by 300 activists, Jalalian is described as a Kurdish political prisoner who was arrested on the road to Sanandaj in 2007 at age 24 and is now being held in Khoy Prison.
In 2009, she was sentenced to death on a charge of membership in the militant Kurdish group Pjak. In 2011, her death sentence was reduced to life in prison.
The letter indicates that she has not been allowed any furloughs in nearly nine years.
The statement reports that Jalalian has several health complications from being tortured in prison immediately after her arrest. Among her top concerns is vision loss that requires immediate medical care.
The signatories also question Jalaian’s sentence, saying she was tried behind closed doors without a proper defence. They maintain she was never linked to any armed attack or arms possession, saying such a heavy sentence is not commensurate with her insignificant educational and counseling links to the Pjak.
The signatories call for her release or, failing that, the provision of adequate medical treatment.
