Zeynab Jalalian, Political Prisoner, Denied Medical Care in Yazd Prison

A human rights source reported that Zeynab Jalalian, the only female political prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in Iran, is enduring her sentence in Yazd prison without access to specialized medical services and in violation of the principle of separation of crimes. According to 'HRANA', the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, this exiled political prisoner has not been able to meet with her family for over 100 days. HRANA writes that Zeynab Jalalian is currently serving the seventeenth year of her life sentence in Yazd prison. An informed source close to this political prisoner's family told HRANA that Ms. Jalalian, who suffers from kidney, gastrointestinal, and eye diseases, continues to be deprived of adequate and continuous treatment due to the obstruction by prison officials. He added that prison authorities have refused to provide the results of tests and medical images conducted in late October, and her treatment has been halted. According to this informed source, by order of the Intelligence Ministry, Ms. Jalalian has been deprived of visits with her family since the beginning of October this year, and this prohibition continues after several months. Zeynab Jalalian was arrested in 2007 and in 2009 was sentenced to one year in prison for illegal exit from the country and to death for moharebeh (waging war against God) due to her membership in opposition groups. Her death sentence was confirmed by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court but was later changed to life imprisonment. Ms. Jalalian has repeatedly stated that during her detention, she was subjected to torture methods such as flogging on the soles of her feet, punches to her stomach, being slammed against the wall, and threats of rape. The halt in Zeynab Jalalian's treatment follows 'obstruction' by prison officials. Human rights sources reported on Zeynab Jalalian's deprivation of visits. Human Rights Watch: imprisoned activists in Iran are deprived of access to treatment. Transfer of Maryam Akbari Monfared, a political prisoner, to Qarchak Varamin prison to serve an additional two years. 100-day deprivation of Pakhshan Aziz from meeting with defense lawyers and family.