URGENT (November 26, 2010 update): News sources report that Zeinab Jalalian is in critical condition on death row, and is being refused any medical attention. Please redouble your efforts on her behalf.
URGENT (July 2, 2010 update): Female political prisoner Zeinab Jalalian has been moved to the enforcement section of the Islamic Republic’s detention facilities; her execution is deemed imminent.
Zeinab, 27, is from Maku, a city in the far northwest corner of Iran in province of West Azerbaijan. She was arrested in May 2008 in Kermanshah and accused of ‘waging war against God’ (Mohareb) and belonging to the PKK (an outlawed political organization).
Her “trial,” in which she was denied legal defense, lasted about 5 minutes, reminiscent of the 1988 mass executions of thousands of political prisoners, for which there is now a demand to convene an international court to try the perpetrators. Zeinab was sentenced to death in that sham trial and the sentence has been upheld. Originally imprisoned in Kermanshah prison, she was transferred to the detention center of the Ministry of Information in March 2010, and has now been moved to the “enforcement” section of the facility, signaling impending execution.
Here is 27-year old Zeinab Jalalian’s letter to the world, pleading for help:
Dear Human Rights Organisations:
My name is Ms Zeinab Jalalian (زینب جلالیان). I am a 27-year-old Kurdish female political prisoner in prison in Iran. My death sentence was confirmed by the Iranian Supreme Court.
I am currently ill because of torture and I don’t have any lawyer to defend me. I want to tell you that my trial took only few minutes. The Court told me: “You are an enemy of God. You must be hanged very soon.” That was the sum of my entire court process. I asked the judge to give me permission to say good bye to my mother and family before my execution. He told me to “shut up” and rejected my request.
Zeinab Jalalian (زینب جلالیان)
26/11/2009Source: Kurdish Women Haven
Below is a sample letter you can use to direct your complaint about the execution of this political prisoner to the UN (with copies to human rights organizations) and to the International Committee of the Red Cross:
SAMPLE LETTER TO NAVI PILLAY, UN High Commissioner for the Office of Human Rights:
Send to: npillay@ohchr.org with copies to: urgent-action@ohchr.org, Iran_team@amnesty.org, saneif@hrw.org
Dear Ms. Pillay,
I am writing to you with an urgent request that you intervene with the authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, who are preparing to execute female Kurdish political prisoner Ms. Zeinab Jalalian. Multilateral organizations such as the UN have thus far refused to step in and put a halt to the criminal actions perpetrated by the Islamic Republic. You must step in and demand a halt to this and other ongoing criminal and barbaric proceedings in the Islamic Republic.
The UN and all other bilateral and multilateral organizations remained silent during the 1988 prison massacres in Iran, where thousands of political prisoners like Ms. Jalalian were secretly executed and buried in mass graves. We will not stand by and allow the silence and inaction of our international organizations to cover over these ongoing crimes. We demand action now. Those who stay silent in the face of these atrocities will be judged harshly by history, if not by an international court of justice.
Sincerely,
[your name]
* * * * *
SAMPLE LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS:
Send to: Florian Westphal and Dorothea Krimitsas
Dear Ms. Westphal and Ms. Krimitsas,
I am writing to you with an urgent request that you intervene with the authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, who are preparing to execute female Kurdish political prisoner Ms. Zeinab Jalalian. Multilateral organizations have thus far refused to step in and put a halt to the criminal actions perpetrated by the Islamic Republic. Your mandate encourages your organization to undertake the work of visiting prisoners in situations of internal violence, where the Geneva Conventions do not apply. I ask you to step in and demand a halt to this and other ongoing criminal and barbaric proceedings in the Islamic Republic.
The UN and all other bilateral and multilateral organizations remained silent during the 1988 prison massacres in Iran, where thousands of political prisoners like Ms. Jalalian were secretly executed and buried in mass graves. We will not stand by and allow silence to cover these ongoing crimes. We demand action now.
Sincerely,
[your name]
* * *
RELATED:
June 29, 2010: Brother of Zeynab Jalalian: “Many have contacted to help, but no one has done anything”: Zeynab’s family has not heard anything in regards to the execution of her sentence; authorities have stated that Zeynab’s file was lost. In the past, the case file of other prisoners sentenced to death were also lost. Pasha Jalalian, Zeynab’s other brother, stated that the family had hired two attorneys for Zeynab, however, her lawyers were unable to do anything because the court never presented them with the case file.” Pasha criticized human rights activists and stated that many have contacted them to help, but no one has done anything. He mentioned that the attorneys have not been able to do anything, but that they expect more from the activists. He also added, “If nothing changes, Zeynab will be executed soon, since her sentence was upheld.
برای ایران آزاد mission free iran 
It is very unfortunate that churlish old men, continuing to believe the lies of the past, also believe that they have a right to murder everyone who dares to look upon them as what the are and shall ever remain:
Churlish old men without spine, intellect and integrity sufficient to consider that it is “they” and no other who are, indeed, against the very concept of “God”. (Whatever “God” is supposed to mean.)
How do such “men” sleep at night?
That they will suddenly develop principles sufficient to reverse the mockery of the sentence of death they have unlawfully imposed on that young lady, Zeinab Jalalian, is an absolute impossibility.
It is impossible as they are so lost to the mountain of lies they must perforce believe in, that all about them must also suffer the shame of their blatant and willful ignorance of the right of all to worship whichever gods they choose; and to follow whichever political path is most suitable to their understanding of the meaning and value of life.
GADS!!
That such frightened and churlish old men still exist shames us all.
To a safer, saner and more caring world wherein such old men are fed, led to a sunny room to chat with each other and allowed to practice their lies and self-deceptions on each other.
To Duty.
Thank you.
Daniel J. Lavigne, Founder
International Humanity House (IHH)
http://www.taxrefusal.com
Posted by Daniel J. Lavigne | June 27, 2010, 3:43 amTo the Iranian Officials who can prevent the execution of Zeinab Jalilian,
We are parents and International educators, familiar with aspects of the Hebrew Bible, Christian Bible, the Quran & other holy texts. We call upon you to spare the life of Zeinab Jaliliand and not execute her.
God teaches us to take care of each other with particular concerns for women & the vounrable. God is the only power in our universe that can give and take life. You are not God & you do not have this power.
Your plan to execute this mother must be stopped, to allow her to live and return to her family. Executing her will not stop her people from fighting for their rights and is not a way to avid negotiations with them. Keeping her alive however, will give her family their daugther and sister back and will clear you from murdering her.
If you wish to be like God, then be meriful, compassionate, loving, caring & just.
We beg you to spare this woman’s life. We have no doubt that this is what God would want you to do.
We call everyone, irrespective of his/her religion & faith, to pray, meditate & visualise Zeinab Jalilian being saved from this execution and returned to her family. May God help her and bring a miracle to her life
Posted by Good Teacher | June 27, 2010, 9:16 amThis is such a barbaric travesty of justice. I firmly believe that the regime is making a mockery of god and islam. It’s about the ruthless use of state power against the powerless and must be contested and resisted.
Posted by jonathan | June 27, 2010, 6:48 pmPlease help her not be killed.
I want to say it very simple.
Molah kill so many people. It is in UN power to stop the Molah Rajim, since hozbolah what to stay longer, they will do any thing to stay in power.
they kill people to scare people from protesting.
that is the tool they use, it is up to UN to help Iranian people.
Please help Iranian. Please please please, they need help from outside. please help.
Thank you
Posted by Mike | June 28, 2010, 1:08 amDear Ms. Pillay,
I am writing to you with an urgent request that you intervene with the authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, who are preparing to execute female Kurdish political prisoner Ms. Zeinab Jalalian. Multilateral organizations such as the UN have thus far refused to step in and put a halt to the criminal actions perpetrated by the Islamic Republic. You must step in and demand a halt to this and other ongoing criminal and barbaric proceedings in the Islamic Republic.
The UN and all other bilateral and multilateral organizations remained silent during the 1988 prison massacres in Iran, where thousands of political prisoners like Ms. Jalalian were secretly executed and buried in mass graves. We will not stand by and allow the silence and inaction of our international organizations to cover over these ongoing crimes. We demand action now. Those who stay silent in the face of these atrocities will be judged harshly by history, if not by an international court of justice.
How can you stand by and watch? She could be your friend, your daughter, your sister or your mother?
Sincerely,
Ghazal
Posted by Ghazal | June 28, 2010, 1:32 amNO Execution of Zeinab Jalilian.
NO Execution. NO Execution. NO Execution. NO Execution. NO Execution. PLEASE.
STOP Execution now anf forever.
Posted by Max | June 28, 2010, 3:09 pmWe are here to express our deep concerns about Mrs Jalilian’s fate,and we condemn the death penalty by sending you this small message,yet full of hope and prayers to see this poor lady having her live saved.I just wish to see her condemnation lowered as a human beeign,as a person and as each and every one of us let her live,I beg you,
Elham
Posted by Azadmanesh | June 29, 2010, 1:56 pmDear Ms. Pillay,
I am writing to you with an urgent request that you intervene with the authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, who are preparing to execute female Kurdish political prisoner Ms. Zeinab Jalalian. Multilateral organizations such as the UN have thus far refused to step in and put a halt to the criminal actions perpetrated by the Islamic Republic. You must step in and demand a halt to this and other ongoing criminal and barbaric proceedings in the Islamic Republic.
The UN and all other bilateral and multilateral organizations remained silent during the 1988 prison massacres in Iran, where thousands of political prisoners like Ms. Jalalian were secretly executed and buried in mass graves. We will not stand by and allow the silence and inaction of our international organizations to cover over these ongoing crimes. We demand action now. Those who stay silent in the face of these atrocities will be judged harshly by history, if not by an international court of justice.
How can you stand by and watch? She could be your friend, your daughter, your sister or your mother?
Posted by Medal | June 29, 2010, 5:41 pmfredoom
Posted by ismaylzade ismayl | June 29, 2010, 6:04 pmDear Ms. Pillay,
I am writing to you with an urgent request that you intervene with the authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, who are preparing to execute female Kurdish political prisoner Ms. Zeinab Jalalian. Multilateral organizations such as the UN have thus far refused to step in and put a halt to the criminal actions perpetrated by the Islamic Republic. You must step in and demand a halt to this and other ongoing criminal and barbaric proceedings in the Islamic Republic.
The UN and all other bilateral and multilateral organizations remained silent during the 1988 prison massacres in Iran, where thousands of political prisoners like Ms. Jalalian were secretly executed and buried in mass graves. We will not stand by and allow the silence and inaction of our international organizations to cover over these ongoing crimes. We demand action now. Those who stay silent in the face of these atrocities will be judged harshly by history, if not by an international court of justice.
How can you stand by and watch? She could be your friend, your daughter, your sister or your mother?
Posted by maral shabani | June 29, 2010, 7:38 pmDear Ms. Pillar,
I am writing to you demanding an immediate action against unjust execution of innocent people in Iran. Murdurous Regim of Iran preparing to execute Kordish political prisoner Ms. Zeinab Jalalian.
STOP EXECUTION IN IRAN
HELP PEOPLE OF IRAN FOR GOD SAKE
Posted by sherry bolor | June 30, 2010, 5:26 amNo death penalty
Posted by Amir Helalat | June 30, 2010, 8:48 amPlease, stop the Executition forever.
Posted by Fariba Ahmadi | July 1, 2010, 6:16 pmPlease, stop the execution of Zeinab Jalalian and Please, stop the Executition forever.
Posted by sepehr sabz | July 2, 2010, 4:15 amma he me zeynab jalalian hastim zeynab ra nakoshid
Posted by sheler | July 2, 2010, 5:34 amzeynab ra nakoshid
Posted by sheler | July 2, 2010, 5:36 amخواهان آزادی خانم زینب جلا لیا ن وهمه زندانیان سیاسی درایران هستیم .
بهزاد .
Posted by Behzad | July 2, 2010, 5:12 pmI wish to be free,breathe in open air,i wish the same for the fellow human beings irrespective of the fact which God they believe in ,which political destiny they cherish for their children,on what chunk of globe they dwell…..they are human and if not a threat to the fellow human,they should live freely.
Posted by Liaqat | July 4, 2010, 5:03 pmخواهان آزادی زینب جلالیان و همهٔ زندانیان سیاسی در بند در ایران هستم
Posted by pedram | July 8, 2010, 9:37 pmThis has to be stopped!
Posted by johnny lammers | July 10, 2010, 2:16 amAmnesty 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!
Posted by amnestyusa | July 12, 2010, 11:51 amIn the name of “God” “Allah” “Buddah” and any other being that you beileve in – “Thou shalt not kill!”
Posted by Jennifer | September 5, 2010, 5:34 am