Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia

Your Excellency,

To Permanent Representatives of

Members and Observer States of the

UN Human Rights Council

Geneva, 25 May 2017

RE: Addressing the pervasive human rights crisis in Ethiopia

Your Excellency,

The undersigned civil society organisations write to draw your attention to persistent and grave violations of human rights in Ethiopia and the pressing need to support the establishment of an independent, impartial and international investigation into atrocities committed by security forces to suppress peaceful protests and independent dissent.

As the UN Human Rights Council (UN HRC) prepares to convene for its 35^th session from 6 – 23 June 2017, we urge your delegation to prioritise and address through joint statements the ongoing human rights crisis in Ethiopia.

In the wake of unprecedented, mass protests that erupted in November 2015 in Oromia, Amhara, and the Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples (SNNPR) regional states, Ethiopian authorities routinely responded to legitimate and largely peaceful expressions of dissent with excessive and unnecessary force. As a result, over 800 protesters have been killed, thousands of political activists, human rights defenders, journalists and protesters have been arrested, and in October 2016, the Ethiopian Government declared a six-month nationwide State of Emergency, that was extended for an additional four months on 30 March 2017 after some restrictions were lifted.

The State of Emergency directives give sweeping powers to a Command Post, which has been appointed by the House of People’s Representatives to enforce the decree, including the suspension of fundamental and non-derogable rights protected by the Ethiopian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other international human rights treaties to which Ethiopia is party. More information on the human rights violations occurring under the current State of Emergency is included in the Annex at the end of this letter. [Read more…]

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Press Release

May 6, 2017

Ethiopian authorities should immediately release journalist Elias Gebru or respect his right to due process. Since his arrest, on 18 November 2016, journalist Elias, has not been formally charged with any offense.

A freelance journalist and social media activist, Elias Gebru was reportedly arrested by Ethiopian security forces in relation to his political analysis and articles he published on social media. He was arrested on 18 November 2016, together with his colleagues, journalist and activist Ananiya Sorri and former leader of opposition party UDJ (Unity for Democracy and Justice) Daneil Shibeshi. After four months of detention, Anania Sorri was released on 13 March 2017 without charge. Elisas Gebru and Daneil Shibeshi are still being held iheld in Bole Woreda police station and neither of them have been informed of any formal charges against them and have been denied access to legal consultation or medical treatments.

In its press statement, issued on March 9, 2017, the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE) expressed deep concern for the health condition of Elias Gebru who was reportedly experiencing serious health problems and suffering from losing his olfaction senses due to the harsh detention condition in several police stations across the capital, Addis Ababa. Elias is still being held in Bole Woreda police station.     .

AHRE has documented and reported the arrest of several journalists, human rights defenders and political activists since the State of Emergency was declared on 8 October 2016. We urged also the Ethiopian authorities to cease using the decreed state of emergency as a pretext for escalating grave human rights violations against citizens and particularly human rights defenders, journalists and political activists.

AHRE urges the Ethiopian authorities to immediately release journalist Elias Gebru and other political prisoners who have been held in different detention centers without any formal charge or respect their right to due process.

Ethiopia should respect its obligations under the Constitution of the country, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international standards and respect all legal rights of Elias Gebru and other journalists who have been held in custody without the proper course of the law

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Press Release

March 9, 2017

Ethiopian authorities should immediately release journalists Ananiya Sori and Elias Gebru or respect their right to due process. Since their arrest, on 18 November 2016, neither journalist, has been prosecuted or formally charged with any offense.

Elias Gebru and Ananiya Sori were arrested on 18 November 2016, together with their colleague and former leader of opposition party, UDJ (Unity for Democracy and Justice), Daneil Shibeshi by security forces. Outspoken journalist and former political activist Ananiya Sori was arrested following his recent criticism of government policies in reaction to widespread protests in the country during a radio debate organized by the pro-government media, Fana Broadcasting, in October 2016. In addition, Elias Gebru who is a freelance journalist and social media activist was apparently arrested in relation to his political analysis and published articles on social media. [Read more…]

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