Oct. 24 (ESAT News) The International Women’s Media Foundation honored Tuesday jailed journalist Reeyot Alemu with its coveted Courage in Journalism Award.
Her fiancé Sileshi Hagos was invited to collect the award on her behalf but the US Embassy in Addis rejected his application for an entry visa . Elias Wondimu, publisher of Tsehai publisher’s, received the award on behalf of Reeyot at a star-studded luncheon in New York City.
Reeyot’s message from jail was read at the occasion. She said as a responsible journalist she could not ignore the atrocities and crimes being perpetrated against the people of Ethiopia. The accusations except the fact that she wrote sharply critical pieces do not relate to her as she is neither a criminal not a terrorist. Reeyot wrote that she was ready to pay the ultimate sacrifice related to doing the right thing as a journalist and writer.
“The real Ethiopia is not what the government and ETV show and tell us about. The real Ethiopia is a land where innocent citizens are jailed just because they express their views. I urge you to do whatever you can to change this bad situation,” she said in her message from jail.
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