ETHIOPIA: Swedish Journalists Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison — 04.01.2012
The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International condemns the draconian punishment handed down to Swedish journalists Johann Persson and Martin Schibbye by an Ethiopian judge on 26 December 2011. The two journalists, were found guilty of entering the country illegally and ‘supporting terrorism,’ were each sentenced to 11 years in prison. The WiPC calls for their immediate release.
The reporters were arrested on 1 July 2011 in Ethiopia’s Ogaden region, following a battle between Ethiopian forces and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). The ONLF is regarded by Ethiopia as a terrorist organization and Persson and Schibbye were charged under anti-terrorism legislation. The journalists had entered the country illegally on an assignment and were investigating allegations of human rights violations linked to the activities of the Swedish oil company Lundin Oil. Both denied any involvement in terrorism.
There are serious concerns about the fairness of the trial, which saw both political interference by the Prime Minister, and the use of fabricated evidence in court.
For a full account of the case, please see:
PEN International: “ETHIOPIA: Two Swedish Journalists Found Guilty of ‘Supporting Terrorism’”, 21 Dec 2011
PLEASE SEND APPEALS:
- Calling on for the immediate and unconditional release of the journalists Martin Schibbye and Johann Persson;
- Expressing concern that the journalists have been arrested purely in relation to their journalistic activity, in violation of the right to freedom of expression protected under international human rights treaties to which Ethiopia is a party, including the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights; and
- Protesting the unfair trial in which political interference and fabricated evidence were prominent.
SEND APPEALS TO:
Minister of Justice Berhanu Hailu
Ministry of Justice
P.O. Box 1370
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Fax: +251 11 551 7775/ 7755
Email: justice “at” telecom.net.et, ministry-justice “at” telecom.net.et
Salutation: Dear Minister
Please send appeals immediately. Check with International PEN if sending appeals after 15 February 2012
For further details please contact Cathal Sheerin at the Writers in Prison Committee London Office: PEN International, Brownlow House, 50-51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER Tel: +44 (0) 207 405 0338 Fax +44 (0) 207 405 0339 email: cathal.sheerin@pen-international.org