News Flash
Ethiopian journalist jailed for criticising leader
Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi.
"An Ethiopian judge sentenced a journalist to prison on Friday in connection with a January 2008 column that criticized Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's statements about religious affairs in Ethiopia, according to local journalists," the New York-based press rights watchdog said.
It identified the journalist as Ezedin Mohamed, editor of Al-Quds, which it described as a "Muslim-orientated newspaper".
The Al-Quds column is said to have challenged Meles's characterisation of his country as "Orthodox Christian Ethiopia," CPJ said.
The editor has begun serving his sentence at Kality Prison outside the capital Addis Ababa, the watchdog said.
"The jailing of Ezedin Mohamed is another example of Ethiopia's intolerance of independent and critical voices," said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Tom Rhodes. "It is high time for Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to demonstrate his commitment to democratic values by ending the practice of imprisoning journalists."
Mohamed is the fifth journalist to be imprisoned in Ethiopia, which is the second worst jailer of journalists in Africa, CPJ said, adding that only neighbouring Eritrea jails more.
More General News
Post a Comment
More StoriesView all News
Egypt confirms site for its first nuclear plant 10 now arrested in shooting of ex-Rwandan general Top S.Africa labour group threatens to widen strike Powerful ex-gang leader shot in Nigerian oil hub Ban Ki-moon sends top aide to Congo after mass rape Train rams minibus in S.Africa, at least 8 children dead Car bomber attack on Mauritanian army base thwarted Al Shabaab push towards the palace of Somali President Consensus in Egypt party for another Mubarak term Train hits van in SAfrica; kills at least 9 kids Egypt clamps down on security after museum theft 4 executed in Equatorial Guinea coup plot Homosexuality against word of God: African bishops South Africa bus collides with train killing children UN investigates claims of mass rape by DR Congo rebels [Video] Somali MPs killed in hotel suicide attack South Sudan plans mass return ahead of referendum MDC co-founder Gibson Sibanda dies Equatorial Guinea executions over coup plot condemned Thousands left homeless in Niger Suicide attack foiled in Mauritania UN sends envoy to DRC over rapes Deadly battles continue in Somalia Sudan plans to build nuclear plant Spain denies hostages release Fighters killed in Somalia blasts Nigerian leader may run for president -- unless he does not Some 200 women gang-raped near Congo UN base Rwanda detained relative of dissident general Gunmen in Nigeria abduct 10-year-old son of politicianLet your stories be heard. Sign up here and start posting it live on Afrika Speaks