Ethiopie : Zone 9 bloggers must be immediately and unconditionally released

ARTICLE 19 condemns the arrest of 6 ’Zone 9’ bloggers and 3 freelance journalists in Ethiopia, all of whom have been charged with working with foreign organisations that claim to be human rights activists and receiving finance to incite public violence through social media. The journalists and activists should be immediately and unconditionally released. Furthermore, we urge United States Secretary of State John Kerry, who will be visiting Ethiopia on 29 April to prompt the Ethiopian government to release all bloggers, activists and journalists that have been arbitrarily detained.

The arrests came two days after Zone 9 – an independent collective of bloggers who use social media to campaign against political repression - announced their return to activism. Zone 9 had temporarily suspended activities following a period of heightened surveillance and harassment, and the timings of these arrests appear to be a direct attempt to silence their legitimate work and activism.

The six bloggers ; Atnaf Berahane, Mahlet Fantahun, Natnael Feleke, Befeqadu Hailu, Zelalem Kiberet, Abel Wabela, and 3 journalists ; Edom Kassaye, Tesfalem Weldeyes and Asmamaw Hailegorgis of Addis Guday magazine, were arrested on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 April and are being held at Maekelawi detention centre in Addis Ababa.

“These charges are yet more evidence of Ethiopia’s slide towards a complete disregard for human rights. The fact that the bloggers and journalists were hauled to court on a Sunday with no legal representation shows the government’s determination to convict them on trumped up charges,” noted Henry Maina, ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa Director.

“Coming just a few days before Ethiopia’s Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations and as the country gears up for the May 2015 elections, these arrests send a chilling message that alternative voices are not allowed in the country” added Maina. “We demand their immediate and unconditional release and further urge the Ethiopian government to stop intimidating and harassing journalists and activists.”

In its submission to the UPR, ARTICLE 19 noted that Ethiopia has mostly failed to comply with the recommendations that they accepted during the 2009 review, and the situation for freedom of expression and information has deteriorated rather than improved. State delegates must therefore seize this chance to ask Ethiopia’s government to respect its obligations of protecting and promoting freedom of expression. Specifically, we urge the State parties to call upon the Ethiopian government to stop intimidating, harassing, arresting and detaining journalists, including the Zone 9 group.

On 3 April, Ethiopian immigration officials detained a member of staff from ARTICLE 19’s East Africa office for 29 hours, without access to legal advice or consular support. He was thereafter deported back to Kenya and warned that he would face jail if he returned. ARTICLE 19 was one of the last remaining international human rights organisations working in Ethiopia and providing independent information to the UN Human Rights Council.