Freed! How your support has made a difference in Ethiopia
Posted: October 24, 2007
Released: Serkalem Fasil. The journalist gave birth while in prison. © Private
Prisoner releases give hope for human rights improvements
In spring and summer 2007, the authorities in Ethiopia released dozens of prisoners of conscience.
The releases bring encouragement to other prisoners of conscience who remain in prison in Ethiopia and to their supporters worldwide.
Journalist Serkalem Fasil was freed on April 10, 2007, after a judge ruled that there was no reason for her to be in prison any longer. She had been arrested in November 2005 for publishing articles that were critical of the government.
At the time of her arrest, Serkalem Fasil was pregnant, and she gave birth to a baby boy in a police hospital in June 2006. She was returned to prison soon after the birth, taking the baby with her.
Serkalem Fasil faced very serious charges, including treason. If she had been found guilty, she would have faced the death penalty.
Amnesty International members around the world had stood by Serkalem Fasil from the beginning, and campaigned for her release.
In July there were further developments in Ethiopia. On July 9, a prosecutor demanded the death sentence for 38 journalists, politicians and human rights defenders who were standing trial after they had protested against the 2005 elections process. Amongst them were prisoners of conscience Hailu Shawel, president of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, and Professor Mesfin Woldemariam, founder of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council.
A week later they were all found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Amnesty strongly protested the verdict and the sentence. Then, on July 20 came the good news that the President of Ethiopia had pardoned all of them and that they were free.
In recent years, there have been serious human rights abuses in Ethiopia. Freedom of expression has been limited. There are only a few independent newspapers and they all avoid criticism of the government.
Although the recent releases are a step in the right direction, the human rights situation in Ethiopia still gives cause for concern. With your support, Amnesty International continues to work for the freedom of all other Ethiopian prisoners of conscience.