🔗 Share this article Olympian and Several Eritreans Released After Nearly Two Decades Without Facing Charges, Relatives Say Zeragaber Gebrehiwot was 24 when he participated in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Thirteen individuals held for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a infamous military prison, as stated by family members of the detainees. Among those freed were a number of well-known individuals, such as elderly Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot. They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, renowned for its severe environment and where many inmates are believed to be political prisoners. Circumstances Surrounding the Detention An unnamed source who was once detained in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on a senior state security official in the government. Around 30 people were originally arrested, per the source. A number have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen stayed imprisoned. Profile of an Olympian Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia. The mountainous country, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted cycling culture and its riders have steadily gained global acclaim in recent years. List of Freed The individuals freed with Zeragaber include prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an engineer, and Matthews, a geometrist. A half-dozen high-level police officials and an internal security agent were released as well. The Eritrean government has not issued any statement concerning the releases. A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been freed now. Relatives were not allowed to see the prisoners during their detention, the relatives reported. Global Condemnation and Prison Conditions The UN and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, encompassing ill-treatment, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in deplorable circumstances. Mai Serwa facility, situated about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has expanded over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, according to reports. Background on Political Rule For the past thirty years, Eritrea has continued to be a one-party state with no active constitutional framework. It is among the world's most militarised societies, with indefinite military conscription. There has been no free press since the closure of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001. This was when the government arrested 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the president implement the draft constitution and hold open elections. Per advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed. Aged 79, the leader marked 32 years in office and has still never faced an election.
Zeragaber Gebrehiwot was 24 when he participated in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Thirteen individuals held for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a infamous military prison, as stated by family members of the detainees. Among those freed were a number of well-known individuals, such as elderly Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot. They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, renowned for its severe environment and where many inmates are believed to be political prisoners. Circumstances Surrounding the Detention An unnamed source who was once detained in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on a senior state security official in the government. Around 30 people were originally arrested, per the source. A number have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen stayed imprisoned. Profile of an Olympian Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia. The mountainous country, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted cycling culture and its riders have steadily gained global acclaim in recent years. List of Freed The individuals freed with Zeragaber include prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an engineer, and Matthews, a geometrist. A half-dozen high-level police officials and an internal security agent were released as well. The Eritrean government has not issued any statement concerning the releases. A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been freed now. Relatives were not allowed to see the prisoners during their detention, the relatives reported. Global Condemnation and Prison Conditions The UN and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, encompassing ill-treatment, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in deplorable circumstances. Mai Serwa facility, situated about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has expanded over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, according to reports. Background on Political Rule For the past thirty years, Eritrea has continued to be a one-party state with no active constitutional framework. It is among the world's most militarised societies, with indefinite military conscription. There has been no free press since the closure of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001. This was when the government arrested 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the president implement the draft constitution and hold open elections. Per advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed. Aged 79, the leader marked 32 years in office and has still never faced an election.