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COVID is a natural killer, but Abtin’s death was aided and abetted by the Iranian government every step of the way. Tehran’s Evin prison was a perpetual super-spreader event, making his unjust imprisonment since September of last year an effective death sentence. Abtin was denied medical treatment, his comorbidities were ignored, and at times he was shackled to his bed. Unfortunately, our worst fears have materialized, and we mourn his utterly preventable death.
Abtin, jailed alongside his colleagues Keyvan Bajan, Reza Khandan Mahabadi, and Arash Ganji, was a true champion of free expression and a steadfast leader in the Iranian literary and human rights communities. When this brave role put a target on his back, he did not flinch or hide. We will remember Abtin as a gifted poet and filmmaker, but also as a courageous thinker and a principled advocate. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues in the Iranian Writers’ Association.
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