Iranian Writers Association: The lives of Baktash Abtin and other political and ideological prisoners are in danger
11-April-2021
Category: Prisoners
11-April-2021
Newsgroup: Prisoners –
Breathing in Confinement: In a statement, Iranian Writers Association expressed its concern over the critical condition of Baktash Abtin as well as the endangering lives of other political and ideological prisoners. The association called for immediate and unconditional release of Baktash Abtin and all of the other political and ideological prisoners.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, Iranian Writers Association released a statement on Friday, April 9, regarding the involvement of Baktash Abtin, one of its members, with Covid-19, in Evin Prison. The statement referred to Mr. Abtin’s poor detention condition and condmened denying him of medical care as well as returning him back to the ward from prison infirmary. The statement added: “The criminal act of the prison authorities, has endangered Mr. Abtin’s life and that of the other prisoners in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. Whereas, Mr. Abtin considering his underlying lung disease needs to receive special medical care from outside of prison. Denying the protesting prisoners of medical care and the refusal to transfer them to the hospital , reinforces the suspicion that the prison’s officials deliberately intended to put the prisoners at risk of death.”
Below is the full text of this statement:
The lives of Baktash Abtin and that of other political and ideological prisoners are in danger
Yesterday, under pressure from Evin Prison’s officials, Baktash Abtin, an imprisoned poet, filmmaker and member of the Iranian Writers Association, despite having a positive Covid-19 test as well as abnormal lung scan, severe cough, loss of taste and smell, fever and severe pain, was returned back from the infirmary to the public ward. Mr. Abtin who was hospitalized for four days with other Covid-19 patients , refused to enter his room in ward 8 and quarantined himself in Evin’s Hosseiniyah to protect the lives of other prisoners. The criminal act of the prison authorities, has endangered Mr. Abtin’s life and that of the other prisoners in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. Whereas, Mr. Abtin considering his underlying lung disease needs to receive special medical care from outside of prison. Denying the protesting prisoners of medical care and refusal to transfer them to the hospital , reinforces the suspicion that the prison’s officials deliberately intended to put the prisoners at risk of death.
These days, when the whole country is suffering from the deadly disease of Covid-19, and while the government is not only incapable of controlling it, but with its inhumane policies has caused the spread of the disease and loss of many lives, the situation in closed space of prisons with lack of medical facilities, can lead to irreparable consequences.
Imprisoning protesting writers, students, teachers and workers while poverty and unemployment, inflation and high prices, have plagued people, is undoubtedly a double oppression. Obviously, the whole government, including the security services, the judiciary, and prison officials are responsible for the lives of prisoners. In these difficult and dark days, the Iranian Writers Association believes that Baktash Abtin’s life is in danger. Therefore, the association demands immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Abtin as well as all of the other political and ideological prisoners.
Iranian Writers Association
April 9, 2021