Continuation of the trial of Zone 9 bloggers and journalists

(Front Line Defenders) – On 15 October 2014, several bloggers and journalists appeared before a court for the 10th hearing of their trial on fabricated terrorism-related offences. The defence raised procedural and constitutional issues and the hearing was eventually adjourned to 4 November 2014.bloggers and journalists appeared before a court

The defendants include seven bloggers who were members of Zone9, a group of bloggers and human rights defenders who discuss online issues of public interest in Ethiopia. With the exception of Ms Soliana Shimelis, who was charged in absentia, the other bloggers and human rights defenders, Ms Mahlet Fantahun and Messrs Natnael Feleke, Befekadu Hailu, Atnaf Birhane, Zelalem Kibret and Abel Wabela, were arrested on 25 and 26 April 2014, and have been in detention since then. They have been detained together with journalists Mr. Tesfalem Weldyes, Mr. Asmamaw Haile Giorgis and Ms Edom Kassaye.

The defendants have all been on trial over fabricated charges of destabilising the nation and terrorism, in an attempt to silence any independent voices talking about the human rights situation in the country. Part of the materials brought by the prosecution as evidence to substantiate the charges is that the human rights defenders used some of the tools and tactics contained in the Security in-a-box package, a digital security resource publicly available on the Internet. The authorities claim that the defendants worked with foreign human rights groups and used social networking tools to “incite violence”.

As the 15 October hearing opened, the defence counsel raised procedural and constitutional issues with the case and requested that it be dismissed on those grounds, and the accused immediately released. The judge adjourned the case until 4 November 2014 to render a decision on the issues raised by the defence.

During the hearing, two female defendants among the group, blogger Mahlet Fantahun and journalist Edom Kassaye, complained about the conditions in which they are detained at Kality prison. They indicated that, with the exception of a few family members, no one else is allowed to visit them. They also complained that the few family members who are permitted to visit are often subjected to mistreatment by guards manning the prison’s gate. Two other defendants among the group complained that they are being labelled as “terrorists” inside the prison. A particular hearing to address the mistreatment allegations has been scheduled for 21 October.

Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned that these bloggers have been held in prolonged pre-trial detention, in connection with their legitimate work in promoting human rights, and is further concerned by the systematic targeting of human rights defenders in Ethiopia on the basis of alleged unfounded connections with “terrorist organisations”.