(July 13, 2012, Nairobi, CPJ)--An Ethiopian court
today handed down heavy prison sentences to six journalists convicted
on vague terrorism charges, local journalists and news reports said. Award-winning blogger Eskinder Nega got an 18-year term; the others live in exile and were sentenced in absentia.
'“Freedom is partial to no race. Freedom has no religion. Freedom favors no ethnicity,” wrote Eskinder Nega, an Ethiopian journalist, just five days before his arrest. Now, the court’s verdict will see him behind bars for the next 18 years." (euro news)
"The court has given due considerations to the charges and the sentences are appropriate," presiding Judge Endeshaw Adane told a packed courtroom at the Lideta Federal High Court in the capital, Addis Ababa, as he issued sentences for 24 defendants, including the journalists, convicted of involvement in a vague terror plot, according to wire reports.
The judge accused veteran journalist Eskinder of participating in a terrorist organization, planning a terrorist act, and "working with the Ginbot 7 organization," a U.S.-based opposition group that the Ethiopian government formally designated a terrorist entity in 2011.
The judge also accused Eskinder of wanting to incite anti-government protests in Ethiopia with online articles discussing the Arab Spring. Authorities have detained Eskinder at least eight times during Meles Zenawi's two decades as prime minister, according to CPJ research.
Opposition activist Andualem Arage was given a life sentence by the court in the capital, Addis Ababa.In May, Eskinder was awarded the prestigious Pen America's Freedom to Write annual prize for his work. Human rights groups have criticised Ethiopia's anti-terrorism legislation for being too far-reaching. Read more from Committee to Protect Journalists »
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'“Freedom is partial to no race. Freedom has no religion. Freedom favors no ethnicity,” wrote Eskinder Nega, an Ethiopian journalist, just five days before his arrest. Now, the court’s verdict will see him behind bars for the next 18 years." (euro news)
"The court has given due considerations to the charges and the sentences are appropriate," presiding Judge Endeshaw Adane told a packed courtroom at the Lideta Federal High Court in the capital, Addis Ababa, as he issued sentences for 24 defendants, including the journalists, convicted of involvement in a vague terror plot, according to wire reports.
The judge accused veteran journalist Eskinder of participating in a terrorist organization, planning a terrorist act, and "working with the Ginbot 7 organization," a U.S.-based opposition group that the Ethiopian government formally designated a terrorist entity in 2011.
The judge also accused Eskinder of wanting to incite anti-government protests in Ethiopia with online articles discussing the Arab Spring. Authorities have detained Eskinder at least eight times during Meles Zenawi's two decades as prime minister, according to CPJ research.
Opposition activist Andualem Arage was given a life sentence by the court in the capital, Addis Ababa.In May, Eskinder was awarded the prestigious Pen America's Freedom to Write annual prize for his work. Human rights groups have criticised Ethiopia's anti-terrorism legislation for being too far-reaching. Read more from Committee to Protect Journalists »
Related topics:
CPJ condemns Eskinder Nega verdict in Ethiopia
Ethiopian blogger Eskinder Nega 'guilty of terror link'
Standing with Ethiopia's tenacious blogger, Eskinder Nega
Free Media Under Attack In Ethiopia
Journalists Live in Fear of 'Terror' Law
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