Zone 9 bloggers in Addis Ababa, all arrested on April 25. Photo by Endalk, used with permission.
The Global Voices community calls for the release of nine journalists arrested in Ethiopia.
Befeqadu Hailu, Abel Wabela, Atnaf Berahane, Mahlet Fantahun, Zelalem Kibret, and Natnael Feleke (all members of the Zone 9 blogging collective) and journalists Asmamaw Hailegeorgis, Tesfalem Waldyes and Edom Kassaye were arrested on April 25 and 26, 2014 in Addis Ababa. We are particularly saddened that four Global Voices translators — Hailu, Wabela, Kassaye and Kibret — are among those detained.
Since 2012, the Zone 9 blogging collective has worked to foster civic engagement and critical commentary about social and political issues in Ethiopia. Despite difficult conditions, they have exercised their right to free expression in the interest of promoting peaceful dialogue and debate.
Global Voices is a community bloggers, activists, writers, and translators from 137 countries. The universal human right to free expression is fundamental to our mission: to tell underreported stories from around the world and defend the rights of everyone to speak freely and without fear. We are outraged by this flagrant violation of our friends’ rights to free expression and deeply concerned for their safety. We cannot remain silent.
Blogging is not a crime. On May 3 — World Press Freedom Day — we as a community demand that Ethiopian authorities release our blogger colleagues and friends, and all other jailed journalists in Ethiopia.
If you wish to associate your name or organization with this statement, please click here and add it to our spreadsheet.
7 comments
Ethiopia is reaching a critical point with the dispute over Badme and Nile Dam.
Most wars start with dispute.
Ethiopia had dispute regarding Eritrea having it’s own currency Nakfa and
Eritrea government opening a bank in Addis Ababa Popolare right next to
the Ethioipian Commercial Bank’s Kirkos branch just before the
Ethio-Eritrean war broke out in 1998.
The dispute with Egypt smells like a potentially badme all over again for Ethiopians. Bloggers do not help mobilize Ethiopians for defense strategy.