The Court of Zia Nabavi Held on Charges of Informing About 'Bed Bugs in Evin'; Defense Lawyers: Judge Should Visit Ward 8

Mustafa Nili, the defense lawyer for Zia Nabavi, announced that the first session of the court addressing the charges against this political prisoner held in Evin took place on Wednesday, September 7, in a 'conference' format. According to the Harana news agency, Mr. Nabavi's lawyer stated that the first court session was convened on the charge of 'spreading falsehoods' and added that Zia Nabavi defended himself during this session. He mentioned that this case was initiated following a complaint from Evin Prison against this political prisoner due to the publication of a text regarding the presence of bed bugs in Ward 8 of the prison. This lawyer, along with Amir Reisiyaan, another lawyer for Zia Nabavi, requested that the continuation of the proceedings be held in person at the next session so that the defendant could present his evidence to the court. He also stated that the lawyers requested the judge to personally visit Ward 8 of Evin Prison to verify the truth of the client's claims, and this request was 'approved.' Zia Nabavi, on Sunday, May 13, wrote in a letter that the 'infestation of bed bugs' in Ward 8 of this prison has caused 'psychological and physical distress' to the prisoners, stating that 'the basic and health rights of prisoners' are being ignored. This imprisoned activist raised the question of whether 'enduring bed bug 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 'the marks of bed bug bites' on his body. Following this letter, the lawyer of this political prisoner told the Telegram channel 'Emtedad' that 'prison authorities removed him from the ward because of this note and, by the decision of the prison disciplinary council, transferred him to solitary confinement for a week.' Zia Nabavi, a political activist who has a history of years in prison, was imprisoned on April 6 after reporting to the first branch 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 Zia Nabavi's protest against the issue of 'the serial poisoning of school students,' and was confirmed by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.