The international women’s press freedom organization, Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) on Monday condemned the “unjust” conviction and sentencing of Meskerem for doing her journalistic work.
CFWIJ has criticized the Ethiopian authorities’ punishment and called for her release in its statement posted on X. “We demand Ethiopian authorities end their persecution of media workers and stop criminalizing journalism.”
“Behind bars since April 2023, Abera has faced repeated harassment from the state, part of a disturbing pattern of targeting journalists critical of the government,” CFWIJ emphasized.
#Ethiopia: Journalist #MeskeremAbera (@MeetMeski), founder of Ethio Nikat, sentenced to 1 year & 4 months for "computer crimes" over YouTube content, accused of inciting unrest. Her legal team is appealing, asserting that the content does not incite violence or criminal behavior.… pic.twitter.com/TDP44G0Hkr
— #WomenInJournalism (@CFWIJ) November 27, 2024
The statement follows the Federal High Court Lideta Branch’s sentencing Meskerem to 1.4 years for “computer crime” over two of her YouTube programs on November 25, 2024.
Meskerem Abera, the founding editor of Ethio Nikat Media (YouTube channel), lecturer, and opinion-maker, was accused of “inciting violence and conflict between communities using a computer,” under the “terrorism” case file of Dr. Wondwossen Assefa, Dawit Begashaw, Gobeze Sisay, and Genet Asmamaw.
Higher Court Delays Sentencing on Meskerem Abera’s Guilty Verdict
The Federal High Court found Meskerem guilty of a criminal charge and passed a verdict on Friday, November 1, 2024.
Meskerem was not present at the court when the sentencing was passed in protest of the court’s verdict, saying the verdict was against “freedom of speech.” The court declined her plea, saying, “Freedom of speech and expression has restrictions.”
Meskerem had been detained and released two times before she was arrested for the third time on April 9, 2023, and remained in custody till today.
According to CFWIJ, Meskerem was arrested for undisclosed reasons on May 21, 2022, at Bole International Airport on her return from Bahir Dar, the capital of Amhara region to Addis Ababa and released on bail on January 5, 2023.
