Journalists Imprisoned in 2017 - Hamid Mohammed Said
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 31 December 2017 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalists Imprisoned in 2017 - Hamid Mohammed Said, 31 December 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a5c93d74.html [accessed 4 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. |
Eri TV | Imprisoned in Eritrea | February 15, 2002
| Job: | Broadcast Reporter, Editor |
| Medium: | Television |
| Beats Covered: | Politics, Sports |
| Gender: | Male |
| Local or Foreign: | Local |
| Freelance: | No |
| Charge: | No charge |
| Length of Sentence: | Not Sentenced |
| Reported Health Problems: | No |
Hamid Mohamed Said, an editor for the Arabic-language service of the government-controlled national broadcaster Eri-TV, was arrested without charge in connection with a government crackdown on the press that began in September 2001.
In a July 2002 fact-finding mission to Asmara, the capital, a CPJ delegation learned from local sources that Hamid was among three state media reporters arrested. At least one of the journalists, Saadia Ahmed, was later released, but Hamid was being held in an undisclosed location, CPJ was told.
While the government's motivation in imprisoning journalists is unknown in most cases, CPJ research has found that state media journalists work in a climate of intimidation 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.
Over the years, the government has refused to respond to numerous inquiries from CPJ and other international organizations seeking information about Hamid's whereabouts, health, and legal status.
In 2014, local journalists who had fled into exile told CPJ that Hamid was still in prison. Amal Saleh, an Eritrean journalist based in the United Kingdom, said that Hamid was believed to have been alive at the end of 2015.
In October 2017, CPJ wrote to Eritrea's information ministry requesting updates on the health and location of Hamid and all other imprisoned journalists. Paulos Netabay, director of the state-owed Eritrean News Agency, responded to CPJ's emails on behalf of the information ministry and declined to comment on the specific case of Hamid. Paulos said that questions on the health and location of imprisoned journalists were a matter for the Eritrean police and prison authorities to address. He did not respond to CPJ's requests for a referral to the appropriate authorities to respond to these questions. CPJ's attempts to reach these authorities independently were unsuccessful.
