2016 prison census - Eritrea: Ahmed Usman
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 1 December 2016 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, 2016 prison census - Eritrea: Ahmed Usman, 1 December 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/586cb8ace.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
| Ahmed Usman, Dimtsi Hafash | |
|---|---|
| Medium: | Radio |
| Charge: | No charge |
| Imprisoned: | February or March 2011 |
Ahmed was one of several journalists working for the government-controlled radio station ("Voice of the Masses") arrested in early 2011, according to CPJ sources. Authorities did not disclose the basis of the arrests. Local journalists told CPJ one of the journalists, Eyob Kessete, was released after several weeks in prison. Eyob, who worked for the Amharic-language service of Dimtsi Hafash, was arrested on allegations that he had helped others flee the country.
The reporters worked for different services of Dimtsi Hafash: Ahmed for the Tigrayan-language service, Nebiel for the Amharic-language service, and Mohamed for the Bilen-language service. CPJ emailed the Eritrean Information Ministry in October 2016 to request an update in the journalists' cases. The ministry did not respond.
While the government's motivation in imprisoning the journalists is unknown in most cases, CPJ research has found that state media journalists work in a climate of intimidation, retaliation, and absolute control. In this context of extreme repression, CPJ considers journalists attempting to escape the country or in contact with third parties abroad as struggling for press freedom.
