Ethiopia: Musicians charged with terrorism offenses for Youtube posts

ESAT News (July 4, 2017)

Ethiopian regime prosecutors have filed charges against five artists and two others of terrorism for disseminating songs and information that they said were aimed at fomenting unrest among the Oromo community. The charge is not the first by a regime that uses its anti-terror proclamation to silence dissenting views and critics of the government including journalists.

The accused are artists Sena Solomon, Efa Gamachu, Hailu Necho, Aliad Bekele, Elias Kiflu, as well as Keneni Tamiru and Moybuli Misganu.

The five artists who sing in Oromiffa and the two others, the prosecutors say, have used Youtube and other platforms to disseminate songs and interviews with Oromo political leaders urging Oromos to rise up and stand up against the regime.

The charge alleges that the accused, organized under a youth club, allegedly associated with the Oromo Liberation Front, also produced news stories and published them on websites.