BRUSSELS, — Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) issued an urgent action call for Zeyneb Celaliyan whose health condition deteriorated as a result of torture in Iranian prisons.
Celaliyan, who is on the death row, was arrested in 2008 in Kermanshah for alleged ties with Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) and sentenced to death shortly after.
She was kept in Evin Prison in Tehran before she was transferred to Kermanshah Prison. She is subjected to continuous torture and threats and her health condition deteriorated as a result.
KNK women branch released a written statement and called international community and human rights organizations to help to save Celaliyan’s life.
“Kurdish woman activist Celaliyan is now gravely ill because of torture and she is waiting her death sentence to be executed at any time” the statement read.
KNK said there are dozens of Kurdish political prisoners who are on a death row and called all Kurdish organizations to show a united stance against Iran’s repressive politics.
Miss. Celalyan wrote a letter in December 2009 to the public and international opinions which is as follows:
Hi…
My name is Zeyneb Celalyan. I am 27 year old and have been held in Kermanshah’s prison as a political prisoner. I was sentenced to death by the Iranian High Revolutionary Court.
Due to the intensive and unbearable torture I have been subjected to, psychologically and physically I am at a critical condition. My illness in serious and I am deprived of the right of having or requesting to have a lawyer.
The whole trial of mine took only few minutes. The judge accused me of being the “enemy of God” and said that I shall be executed soon.
I appealed to the Judge to allow me to speak to my family for the last time. But in response he told me, “shut up”.
Zeyneb Celaliyan
Kermanshah Prison