Zeyneb Celalyan at imminent risk of execution

Tehran- Iran: Reports of imminent execution of the Kurdish political prisoner, Zeyneb Celalyan has been circulating since yesterday and she is reported to be at imminent risk of execution.

Miss Celalyan was arrested two years ago has been sentenced to death with the charges of cooperation with the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK).

 

27 year old Celalyan was tried without the presence of lawyer, and her court session had only lasted few minutes. Zeyneb’s appeal was recently turned down by the court and her sentence was confirmed.

The Iranian well known lawyer Mr Khalil Bahramian stated that he had done some research in regard to this news’ validity but was not successful in finding any evidence.

 

He added: “Knowing she should have been held in the general ward at Evin prison, but her transfer to Section 209 of Evin Prison have caused added concerns to her case.”

 

Bahramian also added: “At this point all we would be able to do is to establish contact with UN Secretary-General, to intervene, and prevent the execution from happening.”

 

In addition, a Kurdish political prisoner Mr. Hebibulla Gulperipur, who has been subjected to heavy tortures and staged a hunger strike, is also at the imminent risk of execution. Arrested on the charges of PJAK’s membership and sentenced to death, Mr. Gulperipur has been subjected to intensive and inhuman tortures within which his two hands were broken.

Hebibulla Gulperipur staged a hunger strike to protest against the prison conditions and also against the execution of 5 Kurdish political prisoners on 9th May. Staying on the hunger strike, Gulperipur’s health deteriorated and he was constantly threatened with death.

 

In Evin Jail in Tehran, Iranian regime hanged 5 Kurdish prisoners of conscious including Ferzad Kemanger, Ferhad Wekili, Eli Heyderiyan, Şirin Elem Hulu and Mehdi Eslamiyan in 9th May. The Iranian authorities violated their own laws by not informing the families or the lawyers of the prisoners before the executions. These Kurdish prisoners were sentenced to death during a few minutes’ trials without any right to defend themselves. Despite 52 days after their executions, the burial places of the 5 prisoners haven’t been exposed to their families as they were buried secretly by the regime.

 

The number of executed political prisoners with PKK (Kurdistan workers Party) and PJAK affiliation have increased to 7 since 2007. Following the execution of Ihsan Fetahiyan on 11 November 2009; imprisoned with PJAK case, Fesih Yasemini was hanged on 6 January 2010.

Hasan Hikmet Demir was the first PJAK member who was executed in 2007 while he was wounded and in urgent need of medical treatments.

 

At this point more than 16 Kurdish political and civil activists, mainly affiliated with PJAK, have been sentenced to death by the Iranian Revolutionary Court.