|
Recently, the Iranian Revolutionary Court in
Kermanshah sentenced another Kurdish activist, a
twenty-seven year old Ms. Zaynab Jalalian to death.
Sarcastically, in the matter of minutes, she was
tried before the Court without a legal
representation and was given death sentence for
being an “Enemy of God.” After her sentence was read
to her,www.ekurd.netshe
asked the Court if she could say good-bye to her
mother. Her appeal was denied and she was not
allowed to see her mother. Since her arrest in May
2008, Ms. Jalalian had been under constant
physical-psychological torture and humiliation.
According to the Iranian judicial authorities, she
was an enemy of God, because she was a Kurdish
activist and struggled for the most basic human
rights that have been suppressed by the Iranian
state-the same state that was among the first 48
nations that on December 10, 1948 adopted the
Declaration of Human Rights. Ironically today, while
still a signatory to the same covenant, Iran
executes activists and advocates who strive to
promote the same rights. .
While we are concerned about Ms. Jalalian’s fate we
realize that she is not alone in this fate -- there
are about a dozen more Kurdish prisoners who are put
on death row for promoting Kurdish human rights in
Kurdistan-Iran. They include Ali Haydarian, Anwar
Hosain Panahi, Arsalan Awlyaie, Farhad Chalesh,
Farhad Vakili, Farzad Kamangar, Fasih Basamani,
Habiballa Lotfi, Hiwa Botimar, Ramazan Ahmed, Rostam
Narkia, and Sherko Marafi.
Showing no regard for international norms and human
dignity, Iran has been stubbornly murdering and
imprisoning Kurdish activists. Perhaps Iran assumes
that it can suppress the “just struggle” of more
than ten million Kurds whose only claim is to have
their own cultural and political identity within
Iran. Without any doubt, such an assumption would
lead Iran to a deeper internal disharmony and
alienation. The motto that “there is no difference
between Persians and non-Persians” has never held
the truth while other ethnicities have been
prevented from practicing their native
cultures/languages. Therefore,www.ekurd.netit
is time for the Iranian authorities to review their
sectarian political culture and try to adapt a form
of government that represents all ethnicities in
Iran, and free all human rights activists.
Members of the ancient Kurds have been struggling
for centuries to preserve their national identity;
hence, the Iranian theocrats should not think that
they would be able to silence them. Instead of
resorting to a military solution, it would be wise
for the Iranian authorities to amend Iran’s
Constitution where all ethnicities are equal before
the law and their unique identities are recognized
and respected.
Kurdish National Congress of North America,
inquiries: info@kncna.org
Copyright, respective
author or news agency
Top |
®
