Ethiopia: Kangaroo court convicts journalists, activists of terrorism offences

Darsema Sori (left) and Khalid Mohammed

ESAT News (December 21, 2016)

Twenty people, including two journalists and activists, were convicted of terrorism by a kangaroo court in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian courts, used by the regime as instruments of silencing dissent and free speech, have been convicting opposition political party members, activists and journalists on trumped-up terrorism charges.

Journalists Khalid Mohammed and Darsema Sory, producers of “Bilal” radio were convicted on Wednesday after they were detained for two years.

The charge brought against the defendants two years ago alleged that the they were involved in illegally trying to get the release of imprisoned members of the Muslim Arbitration Committee and had allegedly plotted to carry out acts of terrorism. No evidence of such crime have been presented by the prosecutor, according to human rights groups.

Several members of the Muslim Arbitration Committee were put behind bars three years ago for demanding respect for religious rights and standing up against the meddling of the government in their religious affairs.