“Say Their Names”: On World Press Freedom Day, Global Voices Demand Freedom for Ethiopia’s Silenced Amhara Journalists
- AAA-admin
- May 2
- 3 min read
“Say Their Names”: On World Press Freedom Day, Global Voices Demand Freedom for Ethiopia’s Silenced Amhara Journalists
Addis Ababa / London / Washington, D.C. – 2 May 2025 — On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, we issue a collective and urgent call for the immediate release of Ethiopia’s silenced Amhara journalists. This is not merely a plea for justice, it is a call to preserve the very foundations of freedom and democracy. In Ethiopia, the act of journalism has become an act of defiance. From the overcrowded cells of Qilinto Prison to the remote and infamous Awash Arba detention camp widely referred to as “Ethiopia’s Guantanamo” Amhara journalists are detained without due process, many held incommunicado, and denied access to legal counsel, medical treatment, or contact with their families.
In London, Human Rights Solidarity, a civil liberties organization based in the UK, will echo this call through a public demonstration on Friday, 2 May 2025, outside The Guardian headquarters. The centerpiece of the event is the “Justice Wall,” a powerful five-meter banner honoring 11 imprisoned journalists globally. While Ethiopia’s Amhara journalists are not yet featured on the Wall, their names will be read aloud and their stories shared making their struggles known to the world.
“I was arrested because I do not serve the regime, because the work I do is treated like a crime. Of those of us here, 90% are Amharas. Our human rights are being violated because of our Amhara identity. I am proud of my Amhara identity. It is part of who I am.”
— Abay Zewdu, from a court hearing, April 2023
An Invisible Wall of Repression
Ethiopia’s brief window of press freedom following the 2018 transition to the Prosperity Party has since slammed shut. After early reforms, mass arrests of journalists resumed in 2020. According to Ethiopian Press Freedom Defenders, more than 200 journalists have been imprisoned since 2019, with Amhara journalists disproportionately targeted due to their ethnicity and independent reporting.
Waves of repression have included:
May 2022: Widespread arrests of critics and dissidents.
April 2023: Mass detentions during regional protests in Amhara.
August 2023: A declared State of Emergency used to legitimize sweeping censorship and incarceration.
The notorious Awash Arba camp known for substandard conditions in a harsh desert climate, beatings, and complete isolation has become the symbol of Ethiopia’s repressive machinery. Detainees report being denied food, medicine, and even communication with family and legal teams.
The Wall of Names
On this day, we honor the resilience and courage of Amhara journalists who have been silenced, persecuted, and punished for telling the truth:
Abay Zewdu (Amhara Media Center): Arrested for covering violence against Amhara communities; remains in custody without charge.
Gobeze Sisay (Voice of Amhara): Beaten and denied legal rights; extradited from Djibouti.
Genet Asmamaw (Yeneta Media): Abducted from her workplace and reportedly abused.
Temesgen Dessalegn (Feteh Magazine): Repeatedly jailed on vague incitement charges; released but facing ongoing pressure.
Dawit Begashaw (Arat Kilo Media): Documented abuses in Amhara.
Meaza Mohammed (Roha Media): Detained for bold investigative journalism; released but still targeted.
Meskerem Abera (Ethio Nikat Media): Criticized the regime and paid with her freedom.
Tadios Tantu: A symbol of endurance—believed to be Ethiopia’s current longest held political prisoner and is among Ethiopia’s oldest political prisoners.
A Legal and Humanitarian Crisis
Behind bars, journalists endure unimaginable suffering. From routine beatings and gender-based violence to hunger and medical neglect, their treatment is a stain on Ethiopia’s judicial system. Courtrooms function less as spaces of justice and more as instruments of repression, echoing state propaganda and undermining the rule of law.
“The courts are not our shield; they are our shackles.”
— Meskerem Abera, prison letter, March 2024
A Global Call to Action
We urge the global community governments, NGOs, civil society, and ordinary citizens to join us in demanding immediate and sustained action.
To the Government of Ethiopia:
Immediately release all arbitrarily detained journalists.
Repeal the 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation and 2020 Hate Speech Law.
Provide international observers access to facilities like Qilinto and Awash Arba.
To the International Community:
Diplomatic representatives in Addis Ababa must demand proof of life and enforce due process.
Development aid must be conditioned on media freedom benchmarks.
The African Union must address this crisis at its 2025 Summit and demand accountability.
To Civil Society and the Press:
Join the demonstration on 2 May and share the names and stories of these journalists.
Support Ethiopian journalists in exile with platforms, protection, and legal support.
Urge UNESCO and media freedom bodies to include Ethiopia in journalist safety mechanisms.
Contact Information:
Burak Batuhan Karakus - Head of Legal Affairs, Human Rights Solidarity
Robel Alemu - Director of Communications, Amhara Association of America
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