Olympic Athlete and Several Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Trial, Relatives Say
Thirteen individuals held for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a infamous military detention facility, as stated by family members of the prisoners.
Among those freed were several well-known individuals, such as 69-year-old Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, renowned for its harsh conditions and where many inmates are considered political prisoners.
Circumstances Surrounding the Detention
An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 after an assassination attempt on a high-ranking state security official in the government.
Around 30 people were originally arrested, according to the source. A number have been freed over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.
The Story of an Athlete
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong tradition of cycling and its riders have increasingly earned global acclaim in recent years.
Those Among the Released
The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber comprise notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an internal security agent were released as well.
The Eritrean government has made no official comment concerning the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this may be the reason why they have been freed at this time.
Families were not allowed to see the prisoners during their incarceration, the family members reported.
International Condemnation and Detention Environment
United Nations bodies and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including torture, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, situated about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has expanded over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, according to reports.
Background on Political Control
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has continued to be a one-party state with no active constitutional framework. It is among the world's most militarised societies, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been an absence of independent media since the closure of independent newspapers and arrest of most of their editors and journalists in 2001.
This occurred after the government detained 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the head of state put into effect the draft constitution and hold open elections.
According to rights groups, 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.
