Nov. 9 (ESAT News) Journalist Eskinder Nega appeared in the supreme court Tuesday to appeal the 18-year imprisonment passed against him but the case was adjourned without hearing as police had snatched away the appeals he wrote to the court.
Journalist Edkinder, who was sentenced to 18 years in jails in July appeared in handcuffs and requested the court to set another date for the hearing.
The judges asked the Kality prison chief why Eskinder’s papers were taken. The chief told the court, which is widely seen a Kangaroo court being used as instrument of oppression against dissidents and journalists, that the prison administration took the papers for examination but the inmate was not willing to surrender the papers. The papers would be returned to Eskinder once they are examined, the prison chief said.
Eskinder also told that he is ready to make his case and is eager for the hearing to begin soon enough. Despite the fact that Eskider does not have a history of violence he was escorted by for police men on top of being handcuffed. The hearing was adjourned for November 22.
Famed journalist Eskinder Nega is the 2012 winner of Pen America’s Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.
Political prisoners who are of Amhara descent have been labeled Ginbot 7 and many routinely face rights violations, according to reliable sources.
High profile prisoners tried under the case of Andualem Arage et al, are facing harassment and abuses at the hands of the prison guards and administration.
The sources also told ESAT that convicted prisoners under the case of Br. General Tefera Mamo et al have been subjected to torture, bearings and degrading treatment. Similar allegations were made previously but the abuses are reportedly getting worse. In Kality and Kilinto prisons inmates have complained about beating and degrading treatment.
Meanwhile, Mr. Andulalem Abate who was convicted of terrorism offenses appeared before the supreme court to appeal his conviction. He told the court that he could not hire a lawyer and requested the court to assign a public defender. The hearing was adjourned for December 3.
Under the internationally condemned anti-terrorism law, hundreds of dissidents, journalists and human rights activists have been facing charges and scores have already been convicted of committing acts of terrorism. While global advocacy groups such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists have deplored the legislation, the U.S. government has also expressed grave concern over the misapplication of the law.
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