🔗 Share this article Olympian and Other Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Trial, Relatives Say Zeragaber Gebrehiwot was 24 when he participated in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. A group of thirteen people detained for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military prison, as stated by relatives of the detainees. Those released were a number of prominent figures, including elderly Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot. They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, known for its severe environment and where many inmates are considered detained for political reasons. Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on a high-ranking state security official in the government. Approximately thirty individuals were initially detained, per the source. A number have been released in the intervening period, but about 20 stayed imprisoned. Profile of an Olympian Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia. The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its riders have increasingly earned global acclaim over the past decade. List of Released Those released with Zeragaber include prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist. A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were released as well. The Eritrean government has remained silent regarding the releases. A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this may be the reason why they have been released now. Relatives were prohibited to visit the prisoners throughout their detention, the family members reported. Global Condemnation and Prison Conditions United Nations bodies and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in deplorable circumstances. Mai Serwa facility, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has expanded over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, according to reports. Context of Political Rule 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 militarized countries, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration. There has been no free press since the shutdown of independent newspapers and arrest 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 called for that the president implement the draft constitution and hold open elections. According to advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed. Now 79 years old, the leader recently passed 32 years in office and has still never faced an electoral contest.
Zeragaber Gebrehiwot was 24 when he participated in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. A group of thirteen people detained for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military prison, as stated by relatives of the detainees. Those released were a number of prominent figures, including elderly Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot. They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, known for its severe environment and where many inmates are considered detained for political reasons. Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an assassination attempt on a high-ranking state security official in the government. Approximately thirty individuals were initially detained, per the source. A number have been released in the intervening period, but about 20 stayed imprisoned. Profile of an Olympian Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia. The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its riders have increasingly earned global acclaim over the past decade. List of Released Those released with Zeragaber include prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist. A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were released as well. The Eritrean government has remained silent regarding the releases. A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this may be the reason why they have been released now. Relatives were prohibited to visit the prisoners throughout their detention, the family members reported. Global Condemnation and Prison Conditions United Nations bodies and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in deplorable circumstances. Mai Serwa facility, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has expanded over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, according to reports. Context of Political Rule 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 militarized countries, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration. There has been no free press since the shutdown of independent newspapers and arrest 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 called for that the president implement the draft constitution and hold open elections. According to advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed. Now 79 years old, the leader recently passed 32 years in office and has still never faced an electoral contest.