The political prisoner and member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, Baktash Abtin dies because of being denied medical care
8-January-2022
Category: Freedom of Expression، Prisoners
January 8, 2022
Newsgroup: Freedom of Expression – Prisoners – Repression –
Breathing in Confinement: On Saturday, January 8, 2022, Baktash Abtin, a political prisoner and member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, died in a hospital in Tehran after contracting Covid-19 in Evin Prison and because of being denied on time medical care and treatment. In recent days and because of his deteriorating condition he had been kept in artificial coma. The Iranian Writers’ Association had previously stated that the Islamic Republic was responsible for the critical physical condition of its imprisoned member.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners ‘Rights League in Iran, Baktash Abtin, the imprisoned member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, died of Covid-19 on Saturday, January 8, 2022.
He had contracted Covid-19 in Evin Prison and developed a serious condition as the prison officials denied him medical care and treatment. On December 6, 2021, he was sent to Taleghani Hospital in a critical condition and was admitted to intensive care unit, tied up with handcuffs and shackles. Finally on December 13, he was granted sick leave and transferred to another hospital. On January 2, 2022, because of his deteriorating condition, he was induced into an artificial coma.
The Iranian Writers’ Association, which published the news of the death of its imprisoned member, had previously issued a statement expressing concern over Baktash Abtin’s deteriorating condition, saying: “Mr. Abtin’s condition had worsened as he was denied medical care and timely hospitalization. The government of the Islamic Republic is responsible for the consequences of whatever happens to the imprisoned writers, especially Baktash Abtin. The government is deliberately playing with the lives of political prisoners who must be released before a catastrophe happens. We all know that these writers did not commit any crime to be punished for.”
The case against Baktash Abtin, Keyvan Bajen, and Reza Khandan Mahabadi, three Iranian writers and former members of the board of directors of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was filed by the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2015, and their sentences were upheld by the Court of Appeals in January 2020, on charges of “acting against national security as well as propaganda against the regime.”
According to the verdicts, Reza Khandan and Baktash Abtin were each sentenced to six years, and Keyvan Bajen to three years and six months in prison. The three members of the Iranian Writers’ Association were transferred to Evin Prison on September 26, 2020 to serve their sentences.