SOURCE: National Press Club
The National Press Club on Thursday voiced its strong concern over the expected imminent sentencing of imprisoned Ethiopian
journalist Eskinder Nega, who is accused of violating the country’s
draconian anti-terrorism law as a result of his high-profile advocacy of
press freedom. Sentencing of Nega could come as soon as Friday. There is the chance
he could be sentenced to death or ordered to spend 15 to 20 years behind
bars under Ethiopia’s 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation.
Nega
has been imprisoned since last September after he posted an online
column that called to account the Ethiopian government for its arrest of
dissidents, use of torture in prisons and denial of freedom of
expression rights. He has been jailed on at least seven different
occasions in the last 20 years.
“When other journalists fled the
Ethiopian government’s crackdown on the press, Eskinder Nega stayed and
he courageously used his Internet platform to bring much-needed
attention to government wrongdoing and abuse,” NPC President Theresa
Werner said. “We call upon the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to promptly release Nega and to cease its authoritarian persecution of journalists.”
Journalists
and human rights advocates around the world have called for the release
of Nega, who was honored last month with the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith
Freedom to Write Award. The National Press Club, based in
Washington, D.C., is the world’s leading professional organization for
journalists. The Club represents more than 3,200 members worldwide
representing every major news organization. The Club was founded in
1908.
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