ESAT News (January 8, 2018) An Ethiopian born Swedish cardiologist who was jailed in Ethiopia in a politically motivated charge told a court in Addis Ababa that 20 of his patients have died because authorities would not allow him to see his patients. Dr. Fikru Maru had repeatedly said he was willing to treat his patients if authorities would allow ...

ESAT News (January 5, 2018) Two days after Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, said Ma’ekelawi detention center was used by the former marxist regime but not his government to torture opponents, a political prisoner asked a court in Addis Ababa today to show scars of torture on his body. But he was prevented by a judge, who sarcastically told the ...

ESAT News (January 4, 2018) Ethiopian regime’s promise to release political prisoners & close a notorious jail is meaningless without political freedoms, the Oakland Institute said today. “For years, while donor countries like the US have turned a blind eye, thousands of Ethiopians have languished behind bars simply for speaking up against so-called development policies and related human rights abuses, ...

ESAT News (January 4, 2017) Media close to the regime in Addis Ababa reported that some political prisoners could be released as early as Friday or Saturday. The Reporter newspaper quoted its sources as saying that the office of the President has requested prison administration and the prosecutor general to provide the list of political prisoners. In a surprise move ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (January 3, 2018) In an unprecedented move by a regime known for cruel treatment of political prisoners as well as criminalizing dissent and independent voice, a statement by the Prime Minister Wednesday says “some” political prisoners would be released. “Some members of political parties and other individuals would be released to widen the political and ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (December 27, 2017) Ethiopians at home and in the Diaspora today held a one day social media campaign to bring to light the predicament of prisoners of conscience in TPLF prisons. Campaigners posted pictures and stories of hundreds of prisoners of conscience and political prisoners who were being tortured by prison guards, interrogators and spies ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (December 26, 2017) Ethiopians will hold a one day online campaign on Wednesday to bring to light the quandary of prisoners of conscience under an oppressive regime. Organizers say the campaign is aimed at drawing the attention of the international community to the plight of prisoners of conscience in Ethiopian prisons. It is also to ...

ESAT News (October 25, 2017) Co-defendants told a court in Addis Ababa that two inmates were beaten to death by prison officers at a maximum security prison outside the capital. A defendant told the court that Alemaye Wake Mamo and Mohammed Chane were beaten to death by the superintendent of the notorious Qilinto prison, named Asefa Kidane. Journalist Getachew Shiferaw ...