Zia Nabavi Sent to 'Punitive Solitary Confinement' Following 'Bedbug Infestation' Report in Evin

Amir Raisian, the lawyer of political prisoner Zia Nabavi, states that this imprisoned political activist was transferred to the 'quarantine section' due to the publication of news regarding the presence of bedbugs in Evin prison. Raisian mentioned on Thursday, May 25, that Nabavi has been subjected to 'disciplinary punishment.' He stated, 'On Sunday, May 21, prison officials came to Mr. Nabavi's room, took him out of his cell, and a day later we learned through other prisoners that he is in the quarantine section.' The lawyer noted that his client 'only took a toothbrush and a change of clothes with him' and said, 'The prison disciplinary council decided to transfer this prisoner to 'punitive solitary confinement' due to his reporting on the bedbugs.' Raisian emphasized that due to the severed communication between this political prisoner and his family, 'we have no reliable information about his condition.' Reactions to the presence of the pest in several sections of Evin prison continue. Late last month, Zia Nabavi published a letter from section 8 of Evin prison reporting a bedbug outbreak. In this detailed letter, he described the insomnia of prisoners due to the presence of bedbugs, writing, 'Even if someone agrees with the baseless claim of the prison guards that being imprisoned is a right for people like us, it is unlikely that enduring the torture of bedbugs would be considered part of our condemnation. May writing about it open a window for relief from these sufferings.' On May 13, the judiciary of the Islamic Republic denied Nabavi's statements and accused him of seeking 'to change his section in Evin prison.' However, some political and civil activists and former prisoners, including Mehdi Mahmoudian and Jamal Ameli, have confirmed Nabavi's claims in recent days. Zia Nabavi, who previously endured eight years in prison, was sentenced to one year in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for participating in the March 2023 student protests at Allameh University in 'protest against the serial poisoning of students.' He was transferred to Evin prison on April 7 of this year to serve his sentence.