Free Ethiopian Journalist Eskinder Nega
Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega is serving an 18-year prison sentence for ‘terrorism’. He was charged in 2011 after giving speeches and writing articles criticising the government and supporting free speech.
Eskinder has long been a thorn in the side of the Ethiopian authorities. He has previously been harassed, arrested and prosecuted a number of times for his writing. Between 2006 and 2007, Eskinder and his wife Serkalem Fasil were tried for ‘treason’ and other charges along with 129 other journalists, opposition politicians and activists. Serkalem gave birth to their son, Nafkot, while she was in prison.
Amnesty International considers Eskinder to be a prisoner of conscience and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
Eskinder is currently held in Kaliti prison, Addis Ababa. In May 2013, Eskinder wrote from prison: “I will live to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It may or may not be a long wait. Whichever way events may go, I shall persevere!”
Call for the immediate and unconditional release of Eskinder Nega.
Dear Prime Minister,
We are deeply concerned about the case of Eskinder Nega, an Ethiopian journalist and father of one, serving an 18-year prison sentence for ‘terrorism’.
He was charged in 2011 after giving speeches and writing articles criticising the government and supporting free speech.
He has been prosecuted because of his writings at least eight times. Between 2006 and 2007, Eskinder and his wife Serkalem Fasil were tried for ‘treason’ and other charges along with 129 other journalists, opposition politicians and activists. Serkalem gave birth to their son, Nafkot, while she was in prison.
We believe Eskinder Nega was arrested, prosecuted and convicted solely because of his peaceful and legitimate activities as a journalist. We call for his immediate and unconditional release.
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We also ask that authorities stop using criminal proceedings to silence their critics and end other forms of harassment against journalists, human rights activists and other members of civil society.
Yours sincerely,
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