Bektash Abtin's deteriorating condition; Iranian Writers' Association: This is the result of the actions of prison officials "and of course the government"

The Iranian Writers' Association once again reported the worsening condition of imprisoned writer and journalist Bektash Abtin after contracting the coronavirus, writing that despite the transfer of this member of the Iranian Writers' Association to another hospital after receiving sick leave, his condition has not improved.

The Iranian Writers' Association, in publishing this news, wrote that following the coronavirus infection and the worsening of Bektash Abtin's condition, the political prisoner was sent on sick leave on December 12, 2019, and his transfer from Taleghani Hospital to another hospital, despite the efforts of the medical staff and the follow-up of his family and friends, Mr. Abtin's physical condition has not improved so far.

The center further added: "What is happening to Bektash Abtin today is the result of the actions of prison officials and, of course, a government that puts opponents and protesters in danger of death by filing cases and issuing long-term and baseless sentences."

According to the Iranian Writers' Association, the family and friends of Mr. Abtin, who spent the first days of contracting the coronavirus in prison or confined to a hospital bed in ignorance, psychological pressure, and under the protection of security forces, hope that his sick leave will be extended and that there will be no further disruption to the treatment process.

The Iranian Writers' Association also stated that responsibility for the delay in sending Bektash Abtin, a writer, journalist, and one of the association's members, to the hospital and for any harm to his life and health rests with "the government, especially the judiciary."

The Iranian Writers' Association had previously published a text on its Telegram channel announcing the worsening symptoms of Mr. Abtin's illness and his overnight transfer from prison to Taleghani Hospital. It had announced that after the family's follow-up and after the prison authorities failed to respond, it was determined that Bektash Abtin was infected with the coronavirus and that both of his lungs were affected.

According to available information, on Monday, December 12, Bektash Abtin's family and lawyer succeeded in obtaining approval from the relevant authorities to send the writer on sick leave, and transferring him from Taleghani Hospital to another hospital so that they could monitor his treatment process.

Razieh Zaidi, Bektash Abtin's defense lawyer, had previously told the Iran Watch news website, noting that the member of the Iranian Writers' Association is hospitalized in the ICU: "Given that both of his lungs are affected by the disease, his physical condition may deteriorate."

The case of Bektash Abtin, Keyvan Bajan, and Reza Khandan Mahabadi, three Iranian writers and former members of the Board of Secretaries of the Iranian Writers' Association, was initiated in 2015 following a complaint from the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic, and the convictions of these writers on charges of acting against national security and propagandizing against the regime were upheld by the Court of Appeal in January 2019.

According to the verdicts, Reza Khandan and Bektash Abtin have each been sentenced to six years in prison, and Keyvan Bazhan has been sentenced to three years and six months.