Zahra Azadseresht

Zahra Azad Seresht was found dead under suspicious circumstances in her home in Kermanshah on 14October, 2017. While authorities claimed she had committed suicide, the details surrounding her life, imprisonment, and the pressure she faced after her release suggest a far more troubling reality. Zahra was of Kurdish origin and had initially been imprisoned on non-political charges, serving time in the Juvenile Correction Center for Women in Dizelabad Prison.

Her life changed when she was transferred to Kermanshah Prison, where she shared a cell with Zeynab Jalalian, a Kurdish political prisoner serving a life sentence. Zeynab, who had been held in detention for years without a single day of leave, became a close friend to Zahra. Despite prison officials forbidding other prisoners from contacting Zeynab, Zahra defied these orders, maintaining a strong bond with her. Zeynab’s resilience and courage left a profound mark on Zahra, who spent four years by her side before being released after paying blood money (Deeyeh in Islamic Laws) for her crime.

Following her release, Zahra continued to stay in contact with Zeynab, regularly calling her and even visiting her after Zeynab was transferred to Khoy Prison in 2015. During one of these visits, Zahra was arrested at a checkpoint on her way back to Kermanshah and interrogated about her ongoing connection with Zeynab. From that point on, Zahra remained under the constant watch of security forces. She faced increasing pressure, including demands to participate in a televised interview to falsely claim that Zeynab was in good health, contradicting the reports of international human rights organizations. Zahra refused, despite the regime’s promises of financial incentives.

As time went on, the regime’s offers turned to threats. Zahra’s movements were heavily monitored, and she was repeatedly pressured to comply with the regime’s demands. On the day her body was discovered by a relative, she had missed a previously arranged meeting, prompting concern. The coroner’s report ruled her death as suicide by medication, but her family and friends were unconvinced, having seen no signs of suicidal behavior from Zahra.

Zahra’s death, like so many others in Iran, raises deeply troubling questions about the regime’s tactics to silence those who dare to stand up for their rights. The falsification of deaths and coerced suicides have become a familiar pattern under the Islamic regime, especially for those who, like Zahra, refuse to bow to its oppression.

Zahra Azad Seresht’s story serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by those who fight for justice and freedom in Iran. Her courage and refusal to betray her friend, despite the immense pressure, are a testament to her strength. We must honor her memory and continue the struggle for freedom and democracy, standing united against the tyranny that took her life.