Ethiopia

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From the Communiqué

1 February 2012

More journalists get jail time on anti-terrorism charges

In another sign of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's worsening repression, a U.S.-based journalist was sentenced to life in prison on anti-terrorism charges, while two other journalists were given heavy prison sentences, report the Ethiopian Free press Journalists' Association (EFJA), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Press Institute (IPI) and other IFEX members.
4 January 2012

Swedish journalists given 11 years on terrorism charges

Last month, an Ethiopian court sentenced Swedish photojournalist Johan Persson to 11 years in jail on terrorism charges Ethiopia sentenced two Swedish journalists to 11 years in jail last week on charges of supporting terrorism after the pair illegally entered the country with a Somali rebel group, report IFEX's international members. Photojournalist Johan Persson and reporter Martin Schibbye were arrested by Ethiopian security forces in July during a gunfight between Ethiopian soldiers and rebels in the no-go region of Ogaden, and were put on trial in October.

See all articles: Ethiopia



Campaigns and Advocacy

25 January 2012

Following fact-finding mission, RSF reports on press freedom situation in the country

in the course of its observations and the interviews it conducted during its visit, RSF confirmed that freedom of expression has been on the wane for some time.
2 May 2011

EFJA cites international support as key to improving press freedom

"We have appreciated IFEX members' condemnations of the Ethiopian government's repressive measures against the organisation," says EFJA President Kifle Mulat.
5 April 2010

ARTICLE 19 building capacity of legal professionals on media law

The training comes as increasingly restrictive laws are being passed, threatening the Ethiopian government's commitment to freedom of expression.

See all campaign news: Ethiopia



Reports

25 January 2012

EFJA calls for concerted global efforts to stop abuses

Following a spate of convictions of journalists on trumped up charges, EFJA calls for action from democratic governments around the world, as well as civil liberty and freedom advocates.
28 May 2010

Independent media voices absent in election coverage

Government must relinquish "desire to control flow of," says IPI


See all reports: Ethiopia

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Alerts

Blogger risks death penalty as judge confirms charges 26 January 2012 CORRECTION: Death penalty for blogger, prison for journalists 26 January 2012 Journalists convicted under anti-terror legislation 20 January 2012 IFJ condemns jail term handed down to Swedish journalists 27 December 2011 Two Swedish journalists found guilty of "supporting terrorism", face 15 years in jail 21 December 2011 Dawit Kebede joins country's exiled journalists 22 November 2011 Authorities charge six journalists with terrorism 14 November 2011 Court drops one of three charges against Swedish journalists 3 November 2011 Authorities detain two more journalists on vague terrorism accusations 19 September 2011 Journalist identified in WikiLeaks cable flees country 15 September 2011 Two Swedish and three Ethiopian journalists charged with terrorism 12 September 2011 Call for release of detained opposition leaders as crackdown intensifies 2 September 2011 RSF calls for release of two journalists, investigation into conditions of detention 30 August 2011 Two journalists freed on bail; two others remain in detention 25 July 2011 Authorities detain two Swedish journalists 6 July 2011 Two journalists detained, held without charge 28 June 2011 EFJA urges China to stop complicity in jamming Ethiopian satellite TV transmissions 22 June 2011 Ghanaian journalists prevented from covering African Union Summit 2 June 2011 Officials censor UNESCO World Press Freedom Day event 6 May 2011 Authorities urged to probe jamming of German radio broadcasts 13 April 2011 Following mass arrests of ethnic Oromo opposition members, concerns raised that Anti-Terrorism Law may be used to suppress legitimate criticism of government policy 7 April 2011 Newspapers and journalists face threats and legal pressure 23 March 2011 Editor released; his son jailed 16 November 2010 Leading critical newspaper reports tampering of its mail 30 June 2010 American journalist reporting in rebel area expelled 21 June 2010 See all alerts: Ethiopia
 
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