Posts Tagged ‘Eskinder Nega’
July 13th, 2012
Prominent Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega was today
sentenced to 18 years in prison for violating anti-terrorism laws. He and 23 other activists and writers were
convicted last month, and accused of links with US-based opposition group Ginbot Seven, which Ethiopia considers a terrorist organisation. Last September Eskinder was arrested after publishing an article questioning arrests made under Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism legislation, namely that of well-known Ethiopian actor and government critic Debebe Eshetu.
June 28th, 2012
24 activists and writers, including well-known dissident and blogger
Eskinder Nega, were convicted for terrorism by an Ethiopian court yesterday (27 June). The presiding judge reportedly
accused Nega of attempting to spark popular protests with his blogging and speeches. Nega criticised the country’s tendency to use its vague anti-terrorism laws to silence dissent.
January 27th, 2012
Jailed
Ethiopian dissident blogger Eskinder Nega will
stand trial in March for terrorism charges, a federal high court judge ruled this week. He could face the death penalty if convicted. Nega and five other journalists were last November
charged with providing support to
Ginbot 7, a banned opposition movement that the government formally designated a terrorist entity under the 2009 anti-terrorism law last year. At this week’s hearing, the judge confirmed all six charges for two of those accused and dismissed all but one charge against three others.
September 19th, 2011
Two independent journalists
have been arrested by
Ethiopian authorities for being involved in a terrorism plot. Security forces took journalist Sileshi Hagos from his home on 9 September. Hagos worked as the managing director for Change, a magazine that covered Ginbot 7, Ethiopia’s leading opposition party which has also been banned under allegations of terrorism. On 14 September, officials also arrested Eskinder Nega, a dissident blogger and journalist. Local journalists speculate that Nega’s arrest was sparked by a column critical of the arrest of a famous Ethiopian actor on charges of terrorism. Four journalists were
arrested on similar charges earlier this month.
