IFJ Urges Ethiopia to Drop Charges Against Magazine Editor and Three Others
May 13th, 2008 | EthioPolitics.com |INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF JOURNALISTS
Media Release
13 May 2008
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the Ethiopian authorities to drop charges against Alemayehu Mahtemework, the editor of monthly entertainment magazine Enku, and three others who were arrested with him after the publication of a cover story about a jailed popular singer.
Mahtemework and three others, who have not been identified, appeared in court on May 6. The trial will resume on May 19. The charges are still not clear but local sources say the four are accused of publishing “stirring articles that could incite people.” The defendants were held for five days before being released on bail.
“There is no need to hold a trial when there is no offence,” said Gabriel Baglo, the Director of the IFJ Africa Office. “We call on the authorities to drop all the legal proceedings against Mahtemework and the three people arrested with him and to allow the magazine to work in total freedom.”
The case stems from Enku’s cover story for its latest edition on Ethiopia’s most famous pop singer Tewodros Kassahun. Kassahun, known as Teddy Afro, is on trial for murder for a hit-and-run incident in 2006. He is well-known for his songs critical of the government and his fans have protested his trial.
Mahtemework and his three co-defendants were arrested by police on the evening of 2 May in a van carrying 10,000 copies of the magazine for distribution. All the copies were seized. After their first court appearance this week, the judge gave police 14 more days to finalize evidence against the defendants and other journalists who worked on the Teddy Afro story.
7 Responses to “IFJ Urges Ethiopia to Drop Charges Against Magazine Editor and Three Others”
By Anonymous on May 13, 2008 | Reply
Good measure the government.Go on!This little boy the bastared singer is a criminal guy and he has to be punished and he killed a poor guy from Gojjam.
By Ermias on May 13, 2008 | Reply
We need to use this medi for good and selected
words.
let us not use bad words just because it is
an english word.
He is charged not found gilt yet.
Let us see what the verdict is going to be.
If he is gilty he should pay for the crime.
By Anonymous on May 14, 2008 | Reply
I accept it.It is a good commentary.ERIMYAS NICE BOY.
By boru on May 14, 2008 | Reply
ANONYMOUS,
KEMALO DEGMO EZHEME METASH ANCHINE NEW KERCHELE TERKEM MAREG BOMB RAS MEHAYEM.
OBAMA 2 AMERICA AS TEDDY IS 2 ETHIOPIA.
LONG LIVE TEDDY.
By selome on May 14, 2008 | Reply
anonymous,
You know the word discipline weyes ahunem kechaka astesaseb alewetashime you people still think like gorella, whether you like it or not teddy is going to be free soon because he is innocent the reason why weyane hate him is he is telling the truth which was supposed to be preached by cangaroo court of weyane ye sebhat nega jelewoch.
we will kik your ass very soon my friend be patient.
By kebede on May 14, 2008 | Reply
The dirty side of EPRDF the don’t know nothing about democracy, meles and his allies should go to 6 kilo university and learn more about politcs.
This guys are doing their job and nothing else as said above there is nothing to hold a trial where there is no offence the same thing happend to our hero ‘teddy afro’ lenegeru ene meles ahunem ‘EMBER TEGADALAY’ eyalu new yedro yechaka zefenachew lay nachew men mareg yechalal we better wait and see EPRDF vanish with in years to come.
May god be with you guys we will pray for you.
By akalu on May 14, 2008 | Reply
Bravo editors telling the truth is what you are up to, we will never pretend no more we will fight with weyanne from every corner and show them what we are capable of,and long live for both you and teddy we will always be with you.
Dawn with sebhat weyane.