1-Meet Zeynab Jalalian, one of Iran’s longest serving political prisoners. She's been imprisoned since 2008.

Her crime? She wanted to improve conditions of Kurdish women. The world has forgotten about her. But you shouldn't

She's serving life sentence. She’s in poor health.

2-Jalalian was born in poverty. “The poor social & cultural conditions of her birthplace deprived Zeynab from continuing her education which later forced Zeynab and her sister, Deniz, to leave their hometown for Iraqi Kurdistan in 2000 in order to https://justice4iran.org/10337/ 

3-She later joined the Party for Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK) with the aim of improving women’s conditions. She never joined any armed insurrection. In fact, she had never carried any weapon in her life. She was merely pre-occupied with lack of education opportunities for women

4-Later in 2008, Jalalian was arrested by the Intelligence service of the Islamic Republic of Iran. To Iran’s rulers, the mere affiliation with the PJAK, especially as a Kurdish woman, was a heresy. She was sentenced to death for “being an enemy of God”

5-Jalalian’s imprisonment has been filled with horrific tales of torture. Her head was hit against the wall, whipping of her feet with metal cable, lack of access to medical treatment for her deteriorating health, solitary confinement, and constant humiliation.

6-Jalalian’s death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment. However, her agony hasn’t ended. Over the course of her imprisonment, she has developed severe eye problems and has been in fragile health. Currently, she has contracted coronavirus in prison.

7-Other political prisoners who were also Jalalian’s cellmates often talk about her kindness towards others and her unflinching determination. Despite the appalling conditions Jalalian has endured, she has categorically refused to make forced confessions on TV

8-The Kurds have helped us all. We must help them in return. Jalalian should not be in prison. She has done nothing wrong to deserve 12 years in prison. To remember her, is to remember the humanity within ourselves.