Transfer of Zia Nabavi to Solitary Confinement After Reporting on 'Bedbug Infestation' in Prison

The lawyer and family of Zia Nabavi, a political prisoner, say his reporting about a 'bedbug infestation' in Ward 8 of Evin Prison has led to his transfer to a 'punitive solitary confinement' cell. Amir Reisiyaan explained in an interview with the 'Emtidad' website on Thursday, June 3, that Zia Nabavi was moved to quarantine on Sunday, May 30, due to the publication of news about 'torture by bedbugs' and then transferred to solitary confinement on Tuesday, May 31. Zia Nabavi, a student activist, was sentenced to one year in prison in August 2023 for 'propaganda against the regime' following protests against the serial poisoning of schoolgirls. According to Amir Reisiyaan, Zia Nabavi has had no contact with his family or anyone outside the prison in recent days, and there is no reliable information about his condition. Hananeh Nabavi, Zia's sister, confirmed this news on the social media platform 'X' and criticized the 'completely false' report by the Mizan news agency, which is affiliated with the judiciary. Following the publication of Zia Nabavi's letter on May 23 regarding the 'bedbug infestation' in Ward 8 of Evin Prison, Mizan dismissed the news as 'false claims.' Meanwhile, according to former political prisoner Mehdi Mahmoudian, authorities at Evin Prison evacuated the entire Ward 8 after the news was published and collected money from prisoners to purchase poison and equipment for extermination. Iranian authorities consistently resort to punitive measures against protesting prisoners and those informing about prison conditions, including creating new cases, issuing additional prison sentences, transferring to solitary confinement, and depriving them of phone contact and family visits. Recently, Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and imprisoned human rights activist, was accused of 'propaganda against the regime' in a new case for protesting sexual assaults against women. Punitive actions against Zia Nabavi and Ahmadreza Haeri for informing about the conditions of prisoners have been noted, as well as the refusal of Taleghani Hospital in Tehran to accept 'dialysis patients' from Evin Prison due to bedbug bites. Zia Nabavi's account of the 'bedbug infestation' in Ward 8 of Evin Prison highlights the disregard for the basic rights of prisoners. Zia Nabavi and Hasti Amiri, student activists, have been imprisoned.