Eritrea

(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned by the continued imprisonment without charge of numerous independent journalists, ten of whom began a hunger strike on 31 March 2002 to protest their detention. The journalists, who were arrested in the aftermath of the closure of all eight private newspapers on 18 September 2001, have […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 3 April 2002 CPJ press release: ERITREA: Jailed journalists on hunger strike to protest their detention New York, April 3, 2002-Ten independent Eritrean journalists who have been jailed without charge since September began a hunger strike on March 31 to protest their continued detention, according to local and international […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on members of the Eritrean parliament to ask for the immediate release of all journalists languishing in jail in Eritrea. “Parliamentarians today have an opportunity to show goodwill and their commitment to press freedom. They must take a firm approach vis-à-vis the executive and call for their release,” stated RSF […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 3 December 2001 letter to Eritrean President Asayas Afewerki, CPJ stated that it is deeply troubled by the government’s ongoing crackdown on the independent press in Eritrea. According to CPJ’s research, all the country’s independent newspapers have now been shut down. Eleven journalists are currently jailed without charges, while the whereabouts […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has asked the Eritrean authorities to release all the journalists who are currently detained in the country. Two representatives from the organisation, including Secretary-General Robert Ménard, sent this message to the Eritrean ambassador in Paris, Hanna Simon, during a 26 September 2001 meeting. The organisation also expressed its wish to go to […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 25 September 2001 CPJ press release: Nine Eritrean journalists arrested; two others flee as crackdown continues New York, September 25, 2001-Eritrean security forces have arrested at least nine journalists over the last few days, sources in the capital, Asmara, told CPJ. The arrests came less than a week after […]

(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Escalating Crackdown in Eritrea Reformists, Journalists, Students At Risk (New York, September 21, 2001) — The government of Eritrea has intensified a major crackdown on its opponents in recent days, Human Rights Watch charged today. President Isaias Afewerki’s government should immediately free recently detained […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: Eritrea: Government suspends all private newspapers New York, September 20, 2001-Eritrean authorities have suspended all the country’s privately owned newspapers until further notice, the state radio station announced on Tuesday. Newspapers affected by the suspension order include Meqaleh, Setit, Tiganay, Zemen, Wintana, and Admas. It is […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to President Issaias Afeworki, RSF protested the suspension of Eritrea’s eight private newspapers. RSF asked the president to lift this measure and to allow the private press to publish again. “We have not seen such a radical and repressive act against the private press in Africa in many years. The […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 6 August 2001 CPJ press release: Eritrea: Journalist Abducted by Security Forces, Many Others Still Missing New York, August 6 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about the safety of Mattewos Habteab, editor-in-chief of the private Tigrigna-language MeQaleh newspaper, who sources believe is being forced to […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 13 June 2001 CPJ press release: CPJ DELEGATION MEETS WITH ERITREAN AMBASSADOR Expresses continued concern about whereabouts of 15 journalists New York, June 13, 2001 — A delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) met with Eritrean ambassador to the U.S. Gima Asmeron in Washington to express its […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 7 June 2001 CPJ press release: CPJ asks Justice Minister to clarify whereabouts of 15 journalists June 7, 2001 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today issued a letter of inquiry to Eritrean Minister of Justice Foazia Hashim, expressing concern about the welfare of 15 journalists who are […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Six journalists who were released on 18 October 2000, after spending four days in jail, said their detention was linked to national service requirements. They were released after proving that they had done or will do their national service. The reasons for the continued detention of Milkias Mihretab and Yusuf Mohamed Ali are […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter addressed to the minister of home affairs, RSF protested the arrest of eight journalists in Asmara. “We ask you to do everything in your power to ensure that the two journalists who are still detained are released immediately,” urged Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. RSF called on Eritrean authorities to […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – On 28 December 1998, Agence France Presse (AFP) correspondent Ruth Simon was released from prison in Asmara. The conditions of her release are currently unknown. **Updates IFEX alerts of 19 October and 29 April 1998, and 16 June 1997** Simon was among five journalists who received CPJ’s International Press Freedom Award on 24 […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 29 April 1998, RSF sent an open letter to Eritrean President Afeworki protesting the continued detention of Ruth Simon, correspondent of Agence France Presse (AFP) in Eritrea. The journalist, who is also an old comrade of President Afeworki, was imprisoned on his specific orders. She has officially been charged with “publishing false […]