Kurdish political prisoner Zeynab Jalalian, who is serving a life sentence, has been returned to Yazd Prison only a day after undergoing fibroid embolisation surgery, despite her deteriorating health.
The Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned that, amid the worsening of her condition and growing international pressure, Jalalian was recently transferred under heavy security to a private hospital in Yazd, where she underwent the operation. She was wearing ankle shackles during the transfer. However, she was returned to prison just 24 hours later, before completing the necessary post-surgical care.
In recent months, the prison authorities have repeatedly blocked her hospital transfer and denied her access to medical treatment, citing various pretexts, while her health has continued to deteriorate.
On 16 September 2025, a group of 22 human rights organisations and 13 human rights defenders, coordinated by REDRESS and KHRN, issued a joint statement calling for her immediate access to medical care, an end to harassment and threats, and her unconditional release.
Earlier, on 1 May, nine United Nations Special Rapporteurs voiced serious concern over Jalalian’s prolonged and arbitrary detention, deteriorating health, and reports of torture and other forms of mistreatment. They urged the Iranian authorities to ensure her immediate and unconditional access to adequate medical care in an independent civilian hospital, warning that “time is of the essence”.
Jalalian, who has been denied family visits for several years, continues to suffer from multiple health problems. Despite this, the Yazd Forensic Medicine Organisation has declared her fit for imprisonment.
Meanwhile, security bodies have made her release conditional upon her expressing remorse and repentance.
