On January 8, 2025, we reflect on the tragic passing of Baktash Abtin, a courageous poet and human rights advocate, who died while imprisoned in Evin Prison during the COVID-19 crisis. He served a wrongful six-year sentence, during which his health declined severely due to inadequate medical care. Today, we stand united in calling for accountability regarding his untimely death, advocating for an independent investigation to uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice.
The Iranian authorities have faced allegations of neglect surrounding Abtin’s health. After displaying severe symptoms of COVID-19 on December 3, 2021, he was shuffled between his prison ward and a clinic before being moved to a hospital and shackled to his bed. His family was kept in the dark about his condition, learning of his serious decline only through fellow inmates.
Baktash fought bravely against the virus, but despite being granted medical furlough for treatment, he succumbed to his illness on January 2, 2022, after going into a medically-induced coma. This was his second battle with COVID-19, first contracting it in April 2021. Throughout his imprisonment, the poor living conditions and the Iranian government’s failure to provide proper medical care worsened his pre-existing pulmonary issues, proving fatal.
Abtin was sentenced unjustly in 2019 for his human rights activism, specifically relating to a book promoting free speech and highlighting censorship in Iran. He began his wrongful imprisonment amid the pandemic’s chaos in September 2020. The call from Front Line Defenders and PEN America emphasizes that the state is responsible for his death due to their inadequate response to his medical needs.
Rather than investigating the negligence surrounding Abtin’s death, the Iranian regime has retaliated against human rights defenders, obstructing their access to medical treatment and restricting their families’ ability to mourn. This pattern of deliberate medical oversight continues to endanger many others in custody, indicating an unresolved crisis in the treatment of prisoners.
In light of these events, it is crucial for global communities, especially UN member states, to pressure Iran’s government into providing adequate healthcare for detainees. The tragic fate of Baktash Abtin serves as a haunting reminder of the urgent need for reforms that honor the fundamental rights and dignity of incarcerated individuals. He once expressed hope “for a day when no one in the world is imprisoned for their thoughts,” a vision that must be pursued earnestly.
This article commemorates the third anniversary of Baktash Abtin’s death in Iranian custody, due to negligence during his battle with COVID-19. A call for accountability and independent investigation is made by Front Line Defenders and PEN America, highlighting the ongoing issues within the Iranian prison system and the need for reform. Abtin’s legacy as a human rights advocate emphasizes the struggle for freedom of speech and justice in Iran.
Baktash Abtin’s death underscores critical failures in the Iranian prison system, notably regarding medical care for detainees. The call for accountability and an independent investigation shines a light on systemic negligence, urging the international community to take action. As we remember Abtin’s contributions, we also advocate for a future where freedom of speech is respected and protected in every corner of the globe.
The article addresses the ongoing lack of accountability surrounding the death of Baktash Abtin, a poet and human rights defender, in an Iranian prison. He died due to inadequate medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting issues within the Iranian justice system and the treatment of prisoners. Organizations like Front Line Defenders and PEN America call for an international investigation into his death and the broader implications of medical neglect towards detainees in Iran.
Original Source: www.frontlinedefenders.org
