27 June 2012
Joint action
Eskinder Nega convicted of "terrorism"
UPDATE: Terrorism law used to crush free speech (Human Rights Watch, 27 June 2012)
(IPI/IFEX) - June 27, 2012 - The undersigned organizations strongly condemned the conviction of blogger and journalist Eskinder Nega on terrorism charges earlier today.
The conviction represents the criminalization of peaceful dissent in Ethiopia and is a clear violation of the rights of freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
On June 27, Nega was found guilty of “participation in a terrorist organization” and “planning, preparation, conspiracy, incitement and attempt of (a) terrorist act” and is facing life in prison.
Nega is the fifth journalist in Ethiopia to be jailed for terrorism-related crimes in the past six months. In April, he was awarded the prestigious
2012 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award, which honours writers that have been persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
Eskinder Nega has long been a thorn in the side of the Ethiopian government. He was jailed along with his wife and fellow journalist Serkalem Fasil for 17 months in the aftermath of Ethiopia's disputed 2005 elections. Their son was born in prison. Their publishing house was closed and Nega has since been banned from journalism, but continued to write for online media and speak critically about the ruling party in Ethiopia.
Nega has been in jail since September 2011. He was arrested shortly after he criticized the government's use of anti-terrorism laws to jail opposition figures and other journalists, including Woubshet Taye of the now-closed
Awramba Times, Reyot Alemu of
Feteh newspaper, and Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson, who were arrested while reporting on rebel activity in the Ogaden region. Schibbye, Persson, Alemu and Taye all received years-long prison sentences at the end of 2011 and in early 2012.
MORE INFORMATION:
Eskinder Nega, five exiled journalists convicted of terrorism (CPJ, 27 June 2012)
NON-IFEX SIGNATORIES
Amnesty International
Committee to Free Eskinder Nega
Freedom Now
Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI)
The National Press Club
- Most covered free expression issues in this country
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The Computer Crime Proclamation enacted in June 2016 criminalizes online defamation and incitement and strengthened the government’s surveillance capabilities by enabling real-time monitoring or interception of communications
Freedom House
16 November 2017
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n October, in response to ongoing antigovernment protests, the authorities enacted a state of emergency that allowed them to restrict internet access and social media use and designate two television channels run by Ethiopians abroad as terrorist organizations, among other repressive measures.
Freedom House
27 April 2017
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Two journalists—one with an opposition newspaper and another with a state-owned newspaper that had covered mass protests—were arrested in December, and were being held without charge at year’s end.
Freedom House
23 April 2016
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Political Science professor known for Facebook activism arrested and charged with terrorism
Freedom House
31 October 2015
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Ranked 180th in annual global media freedom report
Freedom House
1 May 2015
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Sweeping anti-terrorism legislation silences critical journalism
Freedom House
1 May 2014
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Ranked 176th in annual global media freedom report
Freedom House
1 May 2014
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"Full online powers"
Reporters Without Borders
13 March 2014
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"New leader continues Meles Zenawi's onslaught on the press"
Committee to Protect Journalists
11 February 2014
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Ranked 143rd in annual press freedom index
Reporters Without Borders
31 January 2014
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"Ethiopian media remains under a tight government stranglehold"
Human Rights Watch
22 January 2014
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Ranked 177th in annual global media freedom report
Freedom House
1 May 2013
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In Ethiopia, there is a continuing and pervasive deterioration in the space for free speech, peaceful protest, and opposition political activity.
Freedom House
1 April 2013
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Government prohibits political activity on university campuses
Freedom House
16 January 2013
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"Ethiopia has driven more journalists into exile over the past decade than any other nation in the world"
Committee to Protect Journalists
22 February 2012
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Ranked 127th in annual press freedom index
Reporters Without Borders
25 January 2012
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Journalists charged as terrorist conspirators
Human Rights Watch
22 January 2012
At this point, would publish: "Home page"
At this point, would publish: "Journalists face life imprisonment on trumped-up terrorism charges"
At this point, would publish: "Reporter named in WikiLeaks flees amid crackdown on dissent"
At this point, would publish: "Authorities charge six journalists with terrorism"
At this point, would publish: "Blogger risks death penalty as judge confirms charges"
At this point, would publish: "Journalist Eskinder Nega defends himself in court"
At this point, would publish: "PEN awards top prize to jailed journalist Eskinder Nega"
At this point, would publish: "IPI World Press Freedom Heroes condemn imprisonment of journalist Eskinder Nega"
At this point, would publish: "Thirty-two IFEX members urge authorities to release journalist Eskinder Nega"
At this point, would publish: "Authorities detain two more journalists on vague terrorism accusations"
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