ICHR strongly condemns, and holds the government responsible for the death of Baktash Abtin, the Islamic Republic’s officials must be held accountable for their crimes against humanity in the international criminal court in order to prevent such crimes.
On January 8, 2021 – The Iranian poet Baktash Abtin after being unjustly detained for dissent in Tehran died, while contracting COVID-19 in Evin Prison. This is the direct result of the Iranian judiciary chief’s and the government’s inhumane treatment of prisoners and the not holding the responsible officials accountable.
Abtin had been serving a five-year prison sentence on the charge of “assembly and collusion against national security.”
Engaging in any form of dissent that can be deemed critical of state policies in Iran can result in the accused individual being targeted by the intelligence-security establishment and imprisoned on trumped-up national security charges.
The Iranian government is killing people to suppress free speech and crush freedom of thought. Two political prisoners are dead in Iran in first week of 2022, on January 1, kian Adelpour died after going on hunger strike to protest being imprisoned without a fair trial.
Many writers are known to be either currently imprisoned or living with an unserved prison sentence hanging over their heads. These writers were all unjustly targeted by Iranian government agencies and the judiciary for practicing and advocating freedom of speech.
The Iranian government has essentially criminalized freedom of expression and speech.” Said; Ardeshire Zarezadeh executive director of ICHR.
“The government of Iran must immediately and unconditionally release the political prisoners, and prisoners of conscience specially due to the serious concern over the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Iran’s Overcrowded Jails.” Added ; Ardeshir Zarezadeh executive director of ICHR.
There are growing concerns about the spread of coronavirus inside Iran’s overcrowded prisons, and that the Iranian authorities have failed to sufficiently protect prison populations.
As Iran’s overcrowded jail conditions don’t fall within the international standards, no Health or wellness supplies, poor ventilation, limited hot water during the winter season, inadequate food, insufficient beds and insect infestations. Such prison conditions are highly susceptible to the spread of infectious disease.
ICHR strongly calls on Iran’s government to abide the international human rights laws that require to ensure that political prisoners are able to carry out their functions without intimidation, harassment, imprisonments, and death. That been said they must immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners.
Also the Iranian Government must be held accountable directly for any prisoners death in prisons. We also call on other governments to take extra measures to ensure the safety of prisoners.