ESKINDER NEGA BIOGRAPHY ETHIOPIA
Eskinder Nega, a journalist and blogger based in Addis Ababa, was sentenced on July 13, 2012, to 18 years in prison for violating anti-terrorism laws after he criticized the government for arresting journalists and anti-government activists. He was jailed for almost seven years at Kaliti Prison in Addis Ababa, where political prisoners are housed with criminals and family visits are extremely limited, before being released on February 14, 2018, as part of a larger amnesty of political prisoners. On the evening of March 25th, 2018, the Ethiopian Security Forces have re-arrested Eskinder and other journalists and politicians at a social event outside the capital, Addis Ababa. Eskinder was accused of displaying a prohibited national flag and gathering in violation of an official state of emergency but was later released without a charge on the evening of April 5th after spending 12 days of unwarranted, inhumane imprisonment.
On May 1, 2012, PEN honored Eskinder with the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award, recognizing his struggle in the face of adversity for the right to freedom of expression. On May 18, 2017, he received the International Press Institute (IPI)’s 69th World Press Freedom Hero award.
Eskinder’s pardon is set to be announced the day after Irecchha is celebrated in Bishoftu and in Addis Ababa this coming weekend. Close to five thousand prisoners currently held accused of engaging in terrorist and other illegal activities when the celebrity Hachalu was gunned down are set to be released after Irecchha is celebrated this coming weekend.They are held in terrorist charges until now just to deter Eskinder’s followers from attacking the Irecchha celebrators creating huge coronavirus spread risk.