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Press Archive - 28th June 2010 - 11 Comments »

Female Political Prisoner at Risk of Imminent Execution

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Call on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Urge Suspension of Executions

Zeynab Jalalian

(28 June 2010) The Iranian Judiciary should immediately suspend all execution sentences of political prisoners and initiate a thorough and independent review of these cases, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today.

Kurdish political prisoner Zeynab Jalalian, 27, faces imminent execution, as her case has reached the final implementation stage. In addition to Jalalian, at least fifteen other Kurdish political prisoners are on the death row.

“We are appealing to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay to intervene in this case, and to do all in her power to halt Zeynab’s execution,” said Hadi Ghaemi, the Campaign’s spokesperson.

“We are calling upon the Iranian authorities to bring to a halt what appears to be the systematic extermination of Kurdish political prisoners in Iran,” he said.

The office of the High Commissioner is one of the only international actors engaged with Iranian government officials over the situation of human rights. The Campaign believes that the High Commissioner’s intervention with regard to death sentences against political prisoners is essential in urging the Iranian Judiciary to halt these unfair sentences and be held accountable.

Four Kurdish political prisoners, including teacher and social worker Farzad Kamangar, were executed on 9 May along with one other man. At least 15 other Kurdish political prisoners are on death row in Iran.

Jalalian, accused of connections with Kurdish opposition groups, was sentenced to death for Moharebeh, or “enmity against God,” in January 2009.  Iran’s Supreme Court approved the sentence in November of that year.  According to information received by the Campaign, Jalalian’s prosecution did not produce  any evidence of her engaging in armed activity against the state, which is the legal basis for the charge of Moharebeh under Iranian law.

Khalil Bahramian and Mohammad Sharif, two prominent human rights lawyers, have attempted to represent Jalalian, but the authorities have prevented them from taking up the case.

Jalalian is currently held in Ward 209 of Evin prison in Tehran, which is managed by the Ministry of Intelligence. She was originally held in Kermanshah prison, in Western Iran. The Campaign has learned that in March 2010, Jalalian was removed from Kermanshah prison by unknown agents without any legal justification. The Campaign is seriously concerned that during that period she may have been subjected to sexual abuse.

“The entire case is so full of irregularities that the authorities are obligated  immediately to investigate the circumstances of her detention and trial. The life of a young women hangs in the balance;  her execution will be interpreted as another state-sanctioned murder in cold blood,” Ghaemi said.

The other 15 Kurdish political prisoners on death row are: Habibollah Latifi, Shirkoo Moarefi, Hussein Khazri, Rostam Arkia, Mostafa Salimi, Anvar Rostami, Rashid Akhkandi, Mohammad Amin Agooshi, Ahmad Pooladkhani, Seyed Sami Husseini, Seyed Jamal Mohammadi, Hasan Talei, Iraj Mohammadi, Mohammad Amin Abdollahi and Ghader Mohammadzadeh.

During the past year, lawyers representing political prisoners have been threatened and intimidated not to advocate on behalf of their clients. It appears the Iranian Intelligence Ministry and Judiciary attempt to prevent any public disclosure of information about such prisoners, in order to carry out the death sentences in secret and evade any accountability.



11 Comments

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Jook Elshout
Jun 28, 2010 20:59

Please, be respectful and gentle toward life of every human being

stranger
Jun 29, 2010 0:23

it’s not a punishment it’s a crime being done by a government.

Tamara Parvizi
Jun 29, 2010 0:26

Please PLEASE PLEASE… DO what you can to bring some justice to the living hell that is the current state of Iran. Please.

sugianto
Jun 29, 2010 1:00

nice activities.

Arafat Bion Matovu
Jun 29, 2010 10:29

There in a need to act together as a human society in abolishing inhumane treatment by inhumane government cabinets like the Iranian one, the UK one and others otherwise the whole world is facing human rights abuses/racism and xenophobia of the past colonial era. I believe that every human has rights and I don’t see any convincing reason why people like Zeynab Jalalian are executed.

Bjarne Kim Pedersen
Jun 30, 2010 7:17

Cut the rope I

cut the rope from
the neck of the convicted
and bind the judge

Cut the rope II

put the judges to court
and give them a fair trial
for their death sentences

Cut the rope III

life is sacred
no one may steal the right
to breathe freely

Janice Ostlund
Jun 30, 2010 8:56

Why isn’t someone doing something about this…….Where is Amnesty International.

Get Political Fund » Blog Archive » International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran – Female Political …
Jul 3, 2010 4:20

[...] Follow this link: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran – Female Political … [...]

B JONES
Jul 5, 2010 9:34

I WAS READING THIS AND ANOTHER POST FROM STOP CHILD EXECUTIONS. THEN I LEARNED FROM THE WEBSITE OF THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INST, THAT TURKEY HAS A HUGE TRADE RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN. SO, ON THE BASIS THAT THE TURKEY CONSUL WILL FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT ASSICIATION, I COPY THEIR CONSUL WITH MY PLEAS FOR CLEMENCY, AS THEY MAY HAVE SOME INFLUENCE AND TURKEY DESIRES EU MEMBERSHIP.

amanda-jane Gordon-Ball
Jul 8, 2010 12:56

In 2007 Mohammad Javad Larijani, who was then the Secretary-General of Iran’s Human Rights Headquarters and deputy head of the judiciary, insisted that stoning as “neither torture nor an incongruous punishment”. He said that it was less severe than other forms of execution because “the defendant has a chance to survive”.

Being bandaged from head to toe, with arms firmly bound to your side and legs bound together, buried in the ground up to your chest and surrounded by 20 men stoning you to death with rocks considered to be the correct size for a death that takes approximately take 20 to 30 minute.

Stoning is not prescribed in the Koran, it was officially introduced into Iran’s penal code after the revolution in 1979. Article 83 states married men (who can choose up to 4 wives) or women (who quite often cannot choose a husband) who commit adultery. Article 102 states that men should be buried up to their waists and women up to their breasts. Article 104 states the size of the stones, so that a quick death is not found.

Women were given the right to vote in Iran since 1963. But their evidence is worth half that of a man, as is her life in monetary terms with families being compensated twice the amount for the murder of a son than the murder of a daughter. They now constitute 63 per cent of university students and are flooding the ranks of doctors, professors, assistant judges and executives. Yet still before the law they are still considered less than. What chance do they have when accused of wrong doing?

My source, The Times (London) 8th July 2010. Article Regarding the imminent death by stoning of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani for alleged adultery. Appeal from her son, Mr Ghaderzade 22. Who risks his freedom to pursue the release of his mother.

I am appalled to be a european citizen when I see irrelevant news on the front covers of most news papers. Well done to the TIMES for you’re leading story. My heart goes out to the lost. May hope catch you up.

amnestyusa
Jul 12, 2010 17:39

Amnesty International USA has started an online action to urge the Head of the Judiciary and the Supreme Leader of Iran to halt the execution of Zeinab Jalalian. Please visit http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/siteapps/advocacy/index.aspx?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=2590179&template=x.ascx&action=14503 to submit an appeal!

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