Writers and journalists subjected to enforced disappearance for almost 25 years
Twelve writers and journalists: Amanuel Asrat; Dawit Habtemichael; Dawit Isaak; Fessehaye ‘Joshua’ Yohannes; Matheos Habteab; Methanie Haile; Sahle ‘Wedi-ltay’ Tsefezab; Said Abdelkadir; Said Idris ‘Aba Are’; Seyoum Tsehaye; Temesken Ghebreyesus; and Yousif Mohammed Ali, were arbitrarily detained in September and October 2001 in a massive crackdown by authorities on dissent and the independent press. For close to 25 years, the state of Eritrea has detained them incommunicado without trial in conditions amounting to enforced disappearance.
2025 saw the 24th anniversary of the detention without trial of over 12 writers and journalists: Amanuel Asrat (writer, critic and Editor-in-Chief of Zemen newspaper) ; Dawit Habtemichael (teacherand journalist forMeqaleh weekly, believed to have died in 2012); Dawit Isaak (Swedish-Eritrean co-owner and editor of Setit); Fessehaye ‘Joshua’ Yohannes (journalist, poet, playwright, story writer, lyricist and co-owner of Setit); Matheos Habteab (deputy editor of Keste-Demena); Methanie Haile (co-founder and editor ofMeqaleh weekly, believed to have died in 2010); Sahle ‘Wedi-ltay’Tsefezab (writer and freelance journalist for the newspapers Keste Debena and Hadas Eritrea); Said Abdelkadir (chief editor of the Admas newspaper); Said Idris ‘Aba Arre’ (writer, journalist, translator and mother-tongue advocate arrested after denouncing the arrests of other journalists); Seyoum Tsehaye (freelance journalist who had written articles critical of authorities); Temesgen Ghebreyesus (journalist, writer, comedian, actor and photographer believed to have died in detention); and Yousif Mohammed Ali (editor ofTsigenay).
On 18 September 2001, Eritrean authorities launched a massive crackdown on government critics rounding up a group of dissenting members of the ruling party who had published an open letter criticising the government and calling for peaceful democratic reforms.
Over 12 journalists and writers - all associated with independent media outlets that were banned after publishing the letter - were rounded up by security forces and detained. In April 2002, the detainees were separated and reportedly moved to different prisons and detention centres across Eritrea following a hunger strike in protest at their prolonged incommunicado detention.
For almost 25 years, Eritrean authorities have held these writers and journalists in incommunicado detention without trial, in conditions amounting to enforced disappearance. Government officials have denied that a clampdown took place in 2001, saying that the detainees had been sent to perform national service. The whereabouts, state of health and well-being, or fate of all 12 remained unknown at the end of the year.
PEN International has consistently campaigned on behalf of the detained writers and advocated for their release at regional and international human rights forums and bodies. (see PEN International Case lists).
Image Credit: Courtesy of families