Journalists Imprisoned in 2017 - Idris Abba Arre

Tsigenay | Imprisoned in Eritrea | September 11, 2001

Idris Abba Arre was an author and contributor to the privately owned weekly Tsigenay, and worked as a reporter at the Eritrean Ministry of Education.

In February 2001, Idris wrote an article in Tsigenay that criticized the government's language policies in education, according to the U.S.-based news site Awate, which has archived a translation of the article, and the free speech organization PEN International. Idris' writing critiqued the use of the Tigrinya language to the disadvantage of other languages in the country. Journalists who spoke to CPJ initially said that the article had been published in August or September. They said that Idris had been arrested because of this article, but PEN International reported that the journalist also drew ire for denouncing the wave of arrests of politicians and journalists in September 2001.

The exact date of his arrest is unknown. Journalists said they believed he was arrested in September 2001 but the 2016 report by PEN International indicates that Idris was arrested in October 2001. Authorities have not disclosed Idris' whereabouts or any charges against him.

Idris did not appear on CPJ's census of imprisoned journalists prior to 2014. His case only came to the organization's attention as part of a fresh investigation in 2014 into the status of long-held prisoners in Eritrea.

When asked in a June 2016 interview with Radio France International about the status of journalists and politicians arrested in 2001, Eritrean Foreign Affairs Minister Osman Saleh said "all of them are alive" and they "are in good hands." Asked if they would face trial, Osman said they would, "when the government decides" since members of the group are "political prisoners."

A veteran of the Eritrean independence movement, Idris has a pre-existing disability, according to research by PEN Eritrea in Exile and Amal Saleh, an Eritrean journalist in exile in the United Kingdom. Amal told CPJ that there were reports that Idris was seen being taken to the hospital in 2014, but did respond to CPJ's questions asking her to elaborate whether this was in relation to his disability. CPJ was unable to determine the current state of the journalist's health.

A February 2016 decision by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' "strongly urged" Eritrea to release or provide a "speedy and fair trial" to journalists that have been detained since 2001. The Commission also asked the government to lift the ban on the press; grant detained journalists access to their families and lawyers; and pay the detainees compensation.

In October 2017, CPJ wrote the Eritrean information ministry to ask about the conditions of all imprisoned journalists as well as the implementation of the Commission's decision. Paulos Netabay, director of the state-owed Eritrean News Agency, responded on behalf of the ministry. He said that he was not aware of the Commission's decision and that the body's rulings would not be valid until endorsed by the African Union Summit.

A November 2017 statement from Reporters without Border's Swedish Section, which is a petitioner in the case, said that the Eritrean government had yet to respond to letters inquiring into the progress of implementing the Commission's decision.

Paulos declined to comment on this specific case except to say that Idris was a member of "the civil service" and "not a journalist." He said that some of the details on the health and location of journalists were "matters that concern the police or prison authorities." He did not answer additional emails from CPJ requesting referral to the appropriate authorities to respond to these questions. CPJ's attempts to reach these authorities independently were unsuccessful.