New Court Case for Zia Nabavi on Charges of Informing About Bedbugs

A lawyer has announced a new court session for Zia Nabavi on September 7, facing charges of 'spreading falsehoods.' Amir Reisiann told 'Shahrvand' that the court will be held on Wednesday, September 7, in Branch 1207 of the Criminal Court following the publication of Nabavi's note regarding the presence of bedbugs in Evin Prison. Reisiann emphasized that after the publication of this note, Nabavi was summoned to the seventh interrogation branch and informed of the charges. Zia Nabavi, a political prisoner held in Evin, wrote in a letter on Sunday, May 13, that the 'infestation of bedbugs' in Ward 8 of this prison has caused 'mental and physical distress' to the inmates, stating that 'the basic and health rights of prisoners' are being ignored. This imprisoned student questioned whether 'enduring bedbug torture is part of our sentence,' referring to a political prisoner sentenced to five years in prison, noting that despite taking 'Alprazolam,' he still cannot sleep due to 'bedbug bites' on his body. Following this letter, the lawyer of this political prisoner stated in the Telegram channel 'Emtedad' that 'prison officials removed him from the ward due to this note and, by the decision of the prison disciplinary council, transferred him to solitary confinement for a week.' Zia Nabavi, a political activist with a history of years in prison, was imprisoned on April 7 after reporting to Branch 1 of the Evin Prosecutor's Office to serve his one-year sentence. This sentence was issued last August by 'Iman Afshari,' the head of Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, following Nabavi's protest against the issue of 'serial poisoning of school students,' and it was confirmed by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. The formation of a new case against Zia Nabavi due to informing about the 'infestation of bedbugs' in Evin Prison highlights the ongoing issues of prisoner rights and conditions.