Family, co-defendants demand court to look into death of political prisoner

Ayele Beyene

ESAT News (July 25, 2017)

Family and co-defendants are demanding a court in Addis Ababa to probe into the death of a political prisoner whom they said was denied food and prompt access to medical care.

Ayele Beyene, 29 was imprisoned by authorities accused of having email communications with an opposition political party abroad.

Codefendants, who said they too fear for their lives, told the court that they were severely beaten by interrogators and had spent 9 months in dark cells at the Central Investigation Bureau, where political prisoners undergo unimaginable torture.

The co-defendants that include Ayele’s brother, Bonsa Beyene, told the court today that they believe his death was premeditated and asked the court to call for an investigation.