RAHANA-  In reference to the news regarding  Zeynab Jalalian’s possible execution, Zahra Rahnavard stated that she is hopeful that this news is only a rumor, suggesting that the ruling government would once and for all refrain from pressuring its citizens through brutality and instead bestow upon them benevolence and kindness.

The complete content of Zahra Rahnavard’s statement to Jaras is as follows:

In the past few days,  rumors of the imminent execution of Zeynab Jalalian have been circulating. Why? Was Zeynab Jalalian a member of a supposed Mohareb [enemy of God] group? Has Zeynab Jalalian ever held a gun in her hands? What was her crime? Was it because last year she put pen to paper, created posters and carried them around with her?

Will God forgive us for destroying and ending the life a women, who embodies compassion and tenderness in every country?  Zeynab is a young girl. Why is this young girl not able to benefit from information, awareness, knowledge of our history, sociology, and other such matters?

Do we know whether she is truly innocent or guilty? Is her sentence in accordance with the crime she committed? Is it not better for everyone, particularly women and our youth to be provided with new opportunities enabling them to once again take their legitimate place in society and the political spectrum? Is it not better for a regime that is known as the Military Islamic Republic, to instead reach out to the suffering in a mother’s heart and the frustration felt by the youth?  Should they not be treated with kindness and respect instead?

Is it not better to facilitate the further growth of ideas through education and an open culture, rather than stifle them through death sentences?

We must show grave concern for Zeynad and all those like her who are awaiting execution.  It comes as no surprise that today, more than 2/3 of the nations in the world have moved away from this form of punishment opting for other means of punishment instead.  I know that this conclusion was not reached frivolously but rather through endlessly studies and debate on this subject by many judicial and religious experts.

I am currently not in a position to revise the death penalty, but experience has shown that many of those executed were in need of guidance rather than a death sentence.  I remain hopeful that this death sentence against Zeynab Jalalian is but a rumor.  I only wish that this government would once and for all refrain from pressuring its citizens through brutality and instead bestow upon them benevolence and kindness.

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