đź”— Share this article Olympic Athlete and Several Eritreans Released After Nearly Two Decades Without Facing Charges, Relatives Say Zeragaber Gebrehiwot competed at age 24 when he took part in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. A group of thirteen people detained for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been released from a infamous military detention facility, according to relatives of the detainees. Those released were a number of well-known individuals, such as elderly Olympian cyclist and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot. They had been held at Mai Serwa detention center, renowned for its severe environment and where many inmates are believed to be political prisoners. Details of the Arrest A source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a senior state security official in the government. Approximately thirty individuals were originally arrested, per the source. A number have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen remained in custody. Profile of an Olympian Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia. The nation in the Horn of Africa, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its cyclists have steadily gained global acclaim in recent years. Those Among the Released The individuals freed with Zeragaber include 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 also freed. The Eritrean government has made no official comment regarding the releases of the detainees. Many of them are sick and this may be the reason why they have been released now. Families were prohibited to see the prisoners throughout their incarceration, the family members reported. International Condemnation and Prison Conditions United Nations bodies and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, encompassing ill-treatment, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions. Mai Serwa facility, situated about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has expanded over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated. Context of Government Rule For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is one of the most militarised societies, 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 demanded that the president put into effect the proposed constitution and conduct democratic polls. According to advocacy organizations, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed. Aged 79, the president marked 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an election.
Zeragaber Gebrehiwot competed at age 24 when he took part in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. A group of thirteen people detained for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been released from a infamous military detention facility, according to relatives of the detainees. Those released were a number of well-known individuals, such as elderly Olympian cyclist and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot. They had been held at Mai Serwa detention center, renowned for its severe environment and where many inmates are believed to be political prisoners. Details of the Arrest A source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a senior state security official in the government. Approximately thirty individuals were originally arrested, per the source. A number have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen remained in custody. Profile of an Olympian Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia. The nation in the Horn of Africa, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its cyclists have steadily gained global acclaim in recent years. Those Among the Released The individuals freed with Zeragaber include 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 also freed. The Eritrean government has made no official comment regarding the releases of the detainees. Many of them are sick and this may be the reason why they have been released now. Families were prohibited to see the prisoners throughout their incarceration, the family members reported. International Condemnation and Prison Conditions United Nations bodies and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, encompassing ill-treatment, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions. Mai Serwa facility, situated about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has expanded over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated. Context of Government Rule For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is one of the most militarised societies, 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 demanded that the president put into effect the proposed constitution and conduct democratic polls. According to advocacy organizations, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed. Aged 79, the president marked 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an election.