On July 13, Ethiopia’s federal court sentenced Eskinder Nega, a prominent blogger and recipient of a press freedom award from PEN, to 18 years in prison, along with 23 other opposition activists, on terror charges. Peter Godwin of PEN American Center has called for Eskinder’s immediate and unconditional release and has urged the US and other nations to re-evaluate their relations with the Ethiopian government. Regarding the arrests and long prison terms set imposed, Godwin stated, “The Ethiopian government clearly means to send a signal to its people: speak against us, and you, too, could be jailed as a terrorist.” Amnesty International has also called for the release or retrial of the activists, noting that the trials fell short of international standards. Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, maintains that the trials were fairly based on the country’s anti-terrorism law.

To read the Washington Post article, click here: http://wapo.st/OLtEUe

To read the PEN American Center Case Page for Eskinder Nega, click here: http://bit.ly/HFe73M

Photo courtesy PEN America