In Ethiopia, five detained journalists pressured to apologise for terrorism

Three Years of Detention

Five Ethiopian journalists, Gobeze Sisay, Meskerem Abera, Genet Asmamaw, Dawit Begashaw, and Abay Zewdu, have been held in detention for an alarming three years without trial. They were initially arrested in 2023 and subsequently charged with terrorism, a serious accusation that their lawyer, Solomon Gezahagn, indicates is linked to their journalistic coverage of unrest in the Amhara region. This prolonged pre-trial detention raises significant concerns about due process and the rule of law within Ethiopia's judicial system, suggesting a pattern of using legal mechanisms to silence critical reporting rather than to genuinely prosecute criminal activity.

Their continued incarceration without a definitive legal resolution underscores the challenges faced by media professionals in the country. The delay in bringing their cases to trial, as highlighted by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), suggests a deliberate strategy by authorities. This tactic not only denies the journalists their fundamental right to a fair and speedy trial but also serves as a deterrent to other reporters who might consider covering sensitive political or social issues, thereby stifling independent media.

Solomon Gezahagn's Account

According to Solomon Gezahagn, the lawyer representing the five detained journalists, Ethiopian authorities are now attempting to compel his clients to confess to and apologize for terrorism. This pressure is reportedly being exerted as a condition for their release, a move that the journalists have firmly rejected. Gezahagn stated that his clients view such apologies as "self-incriminating," indicating their belief in their innocence and their refusal to validate what they perceive as politically motivated charges.

This reported attempt to extract confessions through coercion, rather than through a fair legal process, is a grave concern for human rights and press freedom advocates. It suggests a disregard for judicial integrity and a reliance on extra-legal means to achieve desired outcomes. The journalists' steadfast refusal to comply, despite years of detention, demonstrates their commitment to their professional ethics and their belief that their reporting was legitimate and not an act of terrorism.

Committee to Protect Journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has strongly condemned the actions of the Ethiopian authorities, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the five journalists. The CPJ views the pressure to apologize for terrorism as a form of blackmail, designed to force confessions for crimes that the journalists have consistently denied in court. This stance by an international press freedom organization underscores the global concern over the state of media freedom in Ethiopia.

CPJ's intervention highlights the broader implications of such detentions, which extend beyond the individual journalists to the entire media landscape. The organization's advocacy serves to draw international attention to the plight of these reporters and to pressure the Ethiopian government to uphold its commitments to press freedom and human rights. The call for their release is not merely about individual liberty but about safeguarding the fundamental principles of independent journalism in a country grappling with regional unrest and political tensions.