Numerous reports of journalists facing harassment have surfaced online. Such incidents mostly spike up during political events when they are out filming anti-government protests or publishing confidential information. Some international journalists have fallen victims to such harassment.
Call For Release
Three prominent US senators belonging to the Democratic Party wrote to the Ethiopian government, demanding foreign journalists’ release under siege. The letter expressed how Ethiopia was eroding freedom of speech by punishing the journalists unfairly. The senators called for immediate attention regarding the matter.
The letter also condemned the fact that Ethiopia always shut down internet connections ahead of Presidential elections. Authorities in Ethiopia believe it is a measure to protect the country from unrest by political inciters.
The Senators, Chris Murphy, Patrick Leahy, and Ben Cardin, were not pleased with what foreign journalists were undergoing in Ethiopia. A part of the letter reported that Ethiopia’s government had increasingly engaged in patterns of intimidation against journalists over the past months. They stated that the current incident was in contrast to people’s well-being that Mr. Abiy had always endorsed. This statement commemorated 2018 when Prime Minister Abiy freed scores of journalists who had been detained by the former regime.
“We urge you to return to that path by immediately releasing all journalists in detention and taking concrete steps to protect press freedom,” the senators said.
Ahmed Abiy is the first Ethiopian leader ever to receive a Nobel Prize Award. This award was attributable to the just reforms he endorsed in Ethiopia since taking office. He ordered for the release of several journalists and lifted bans on close to 250 media personalities during his early days in office. However, recently upon receiving the letter from the US, he was quite hesitant to react. Probably because of late, his administration has been dealing with a lot of confrontations.
Media Watchdog Comment on the Issue
According to the watchdog groups, about 13 journalists are in detention in Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s government detained seven of these journalists in November last year when fightings erupted between Tigray military and Federal forces. Most probably, these men were in the field filming the riots before their arrest.
In late December, the Ethiopian officers detained Kumerra Gemechu, a Reuters cameraman, for 12 days without any charges. Similarly, in mid-December, another Reuters photographer, Tiksa Negeri, found himself on the wrong side of the Ethiopian Federal police officers who arrested and beat him up. Gemechu was lack enough when the officers released him on January 5th this year.
Rights groups have alleged that unlawfully arresting journalists in Ethiopia is an act against human rights. More so if they are taken against their will, tortured, and then detained. Although Federal officers arrested 13 of them, they only charged one of them with spreading false information on COVID-19.
In April last year, the officers released the journalist on bail. Therefore his case is still on in court. Tadele Madhin, who is also representing other reporters, told Reuters that he was doing his best to ensure his client goes free. Meanwhile, the exact number of journalists under detention is still unclear.
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