Ethiopia formally charges bloggers, journalists with. Ethiopia new antiterrorism proclamation jeopardizes. Committee to protect journalists, antiterrorism legislation further restricts ethiopian. Definition in this proclamation, unless the context requires otherwise. This diktat approved on a 28691 vote of the rubberstamp parliament is so arbitrary and capricious that. Natlex, the ilos database featuring national laws on. Jan 20, 2011 download antiterrorism proclamation no. Whereas, it has been found necessary to have a system, that enables to protect. With the african union celebrating the african year of human rights at its 26th summit, at its headquarters in addis, ethiopia, the venue raises serious concerns about commitment to human rights. This effectively suspends the principle of legality. Ethiopian legal information portal find laws, cases. Mar 18, 20 and one of its most effective tools is a vague, far reaching antiterrorism law that has sentenced at least 11 journalists to harsh prison terms. Antiterrorism legislation further restricts ethiopian.
The law defines acts of terrorism as including damage to property and disruption to any public service, for which an individual could be. Dismantling dissent intensified crackdown on free speech in ethiopia. The decree, which will become a proclamation when approved by the parliament, had listed some eleven types of restrictions on rights and established a command post chaired by the prime minister. The paper assesses ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and argues that, not only is the definition of terrorism problematic, but also the implementation of the law continues from the weak ends of the law, and makes the ethiopian situation rife for the violation of the right of thought, opinion and expression. Jul 01, 2011 in august 2009, ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation no. Negarit gazeta of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia official gazette 15th year no. Commission means the federal ethics and anti corruption commission. Proclamation means the revised anti corruption special procedure and rules of evidence proclamation no. The 20 edition of the human rights and democracy report of the government of the united kingdom uk severely criticized the government of ethiopia for its application of its anti terrorism proclamation and the charities and societies proclamation, which hampers the activity of the opposition camp of the country. Instead, yonatan tesfaye, a former spokesman of the semayawi blue party, was detained in december 2015 on charges under article 4 of ethiopias anti.
It threatens jail sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who publishes or causes the publication of a statement that could be understood as an inducement to the commission or preparation or instigation. This diktat approved on a 28691 vote of the rubberstamp parliament is so arbitrary and. Aug 30, 20 ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression posted. Ethiopian prosecutors have today formally charged six members of the blog zone9 and three independent journalists detained nearly three months ago.
Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia inter press. Whereas, money laundering and the financing of terrorism as it not only threaten security, but also compromise the stability, transparency, soundness and efficiency of the financial system. Aug 30, 20 ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression. Instead, yonatan tesfaye, a former spokesman of the semayawi blue party, was detained in december 2015 on charges under article 4 of ethiopia s anti terrorism proclamation. Comment on ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation article 19, london, 2010. Since 2008, the government of ethiopia has implemented a proselytization project aimed at establishing ahbash as the one statesanctioned sect of islam. Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia inter. Ethiopia passed the antiterrorism proclamation 6522009 in july 2009. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation became law in 2009 and has been strongly criticized by local activists and global human rights groups. Soliana shimelis, the seventh defendant of the group zone9 is charged in absentia, according to a local bi weekly, the reporter. The situation of human rights defenders in ethiopia. This paper analyses ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards.
Antiterrorism legislation further restricts ethiopian press. Freedominfo ethiopia criminalizes free flow of information. Many dissidents fall into its trap and by day its effect is becoming more farreaching and resonating. This is because, based on the definition of counterterrorism laws, it is possible to interpret many actions and incidents as terrorism. Addis ababa han january 29, 2016 public diplomacy and regional stability initiatives news. For example, under the anti terrorism proclamation of ethiopia, the provision directly copied from the western nations of counterterrorism act, especially that of germany, is article 6. Ethiopias commitment and respect for african institutions and mechanisms is not in doubt.
In justifying his antiterrorism law in february 2012, zenawi offered the following mindboggling explanation to his rubberstamp parliament. The anti terrorism proclamation 2009 has been used extensively to imprison government. Even though the proclamation was intended to provide adequate legal. Selected issues and statistical appendix this selected issues and statistical appendix paper for the federal democratic republic of ethiopia was prepared by a staff team of the international monetary fund as background documentation for the periodic consultation with the member country. Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of. Ethiopia criminalizes free flow of information freedom info. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation provides that. This article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and information. African commission on human and peoples rights, antiterrorism, antiterrorism proclamation, article 19 of the iccpr, convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism, eskinder nega, ethiopia, european parliament, human. The government of ethiopia routinely uses its vague and overly broad anti terrorism law to stifle freedom of expression and political opposition.
Since its enactment on july 2009, ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation is at the very center of every political discourse in the almost nation. We took from america, england and the european model antiterrorism laws. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation on. The conformity of ethiopian anti terrorism proclamation with the oau convention. Ethiopian antiterrorism law archives ethiopian legal brief. Sep 15, 2015 this article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and information.
Part one general part two terrorism and related crimes part three preventive and investigative measures part four evidentiary and procedural rules part five measures to control terrorist organizations and property. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law human. Whereas, it has been found necessary to have a system, that. The proclamation was adopted on 7 july 2009 and came into force upon its publication in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia official gazette 15th year no.
Ethiopia also promulgated the antiterrorism proclamation in 2009, which also restricts ethiopians ability to criticise their government, and limits the level of scrutiny and oversight to which the government is subjected. Political marginalization, arbitrary arrests, beatings, murders. The antiterrorism law makes the criminal code applicable only to the extent that the code is consistent with the antiterrorism law provisions antiterrorism proclamation, 36, supra. The ethiopian government has used the anti terrorism proclamation to jail journalists and opposition party members for peacefully exercising their freedoms of expression and association. In 2009, former prime minister meles zenawis government passed the antiterrorism proclamation.
August 2012 article 19 free word centre, 60 farringdon rd, london ec1r 3ga. The special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders has since. Prevention and suppression of terrorism crimes proclamation. A tool to stifle dissent, by the oakland institute and the environmental defender law center, authored by lawyers including representatives from leading international law firms, unravels the 2009 proclamation. The antiterrorism proclamation and the criminal code must not be extended to cover telecommunications, but must be amended to protect the right to freedom of expression. Your use of this heinonline pdf indicates your acceptance of. In principle, the antiterrorism proclamation and the existing criminal code have high requirements for government prosecutors to prove intent in charges against the press, according to legal experts and cpj analysis. In august last year zenawi died but the legislation survived under his successor hailemaraiam desalegn. Amnesty international, human rights watch, committee to protect journalists cpj, all have openly criticized ethiopia for adopting the anti terrorism proclamation. Uk counter terrorism policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to. The impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of. Terrorism by antiterrorism law lately, meles zenawi, the dictator in ethiopia, has been rounding up dissidents, journalists, opposition party political leaders and members under a diktat known as antiterrorism proclamation no.
African commission on human and peoples rights, antiterrorism, antiterrorism proclamation, article 19 of the iccpr, convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism, eskinder nega. This practice raises serious concerns about the extent to which ethiopians can rely upon their constitutionally guaranteed rights to afford the protection that. The proclamation was adopted on 7 july 2009 and came into force upon its. Sep 29, 2011 if the authorities have credible evidence against any of these journalists, let them present it publicly. This text may be used free of charge for the purposes of advocacy, campaigning, education, and research, provided. Pdf this article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the. Jun 30, 2009 this paper analyses ethiopia s draft anti terrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. On 17 august, university lecturer firew bekele was arrested and charged under ethiopias draconian. On wednesday 17 july 20, members of the european parliaments subcommittee on human rights visited ethiopia and urged the government to release journalists and opposition activists imprisoned under the countrys anti. In drafting our antiterrorism law, we copied wordforword the very best antiterrorism laws in the world. This is a chapter in a recently issued state of right to information in africa report 2014 and is reprinted with permission. Hate speech and disinformation prevention and suppression proclamation.
And one of its most effective tools is a vague, far reaching antiterrorism law that has sentenced at least 11 journalists to harsh prison terms. Oct 15, 2014 by riva jalipa the author is legal officer for article 19eastern africa. The identity of those suspected for terrorism and arrested based on the law also gave this institutions a reason to take ethiopia a regular destination for their condemnations. Proclamation no 4332005 the revised proclamation for the. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation. Ethiopia uses antiterror laws to silence critical journalists. Repeal the charities and societies proclamation and the anti terrorism proclamation and develop legislation which conforms to the standards set out in human rights council resolution 226 on protecting human. In august 2009, ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation no. The government of ethiopia routinely uses its vague and overly broad antiterrorism law to stifle freedom of expression and political opposition.
It confirms that the law is designed and used by the ethiopian government as a tool of. New antiterrorism proclamation jeopardizes freedom. Four years on, official restrictions remain the greatest threat to the activities of hrds. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression posted. Based on earlier drafts of the law previously made available to amnesty international, acts of terrorism are vaguely defined and could encompass the legitimate expression of political dissent. Ethiopia new antiterrorism proclamation jeopardizes freedom of expression addis ababa, ethiopia, july 8, 2009african press organization apo reacting to. Copy of the proclamation is attached to this comment, see appendix 1. The most problematic features of this proclamation include the extension of the anti terrorism proclamation 2009 and the criminal code of 2004 to electronic communications, including the internet sec. On wednesday 17 july 20, members of the european parliaments subcommittee on human rights visited ethiopia and urged the government to release journalists and opposition activists imprisoned under the countrys anti terrorism proclamation no. International and regional reaction to the human rights situation. Administrative procedure proclamation ethiopia covid19 workplace response protocol ministry of labor ethiopia. Ethiopia recognized the right to freedom of expression and information by ratifying the international covenant on civil and political rights iccpr in 1993.
The 2009 charities and societies proclamation as a. This proclamation may be cited as anti corruption commission establishment proclamation no. A tool to stifle dissent, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation. Article 19 free word centre 60 farringdon road london ec1r 3ga. The new legislation on charities and societies, proclamation no. In principle, the anti terrorism proclamation and the existing criminal code have high requirements for government prosecutors to prove intent in charges against the press, according to legal experts and cpj analysis. Since the 911, 2001 terrorist attacks in the us, terrorism has been a preeminent concern of the international community, both with regard. Remove restrictions on freedom of expression imposed on the mass media by the access to information proclamation 2008 and the antiterrorism proclamation 2009 that do not conform to rights of freedom of expression provided. This paper analyses ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to. Amnesty international, human rights watch, committee to protect journalists cpj, all have openly criticized ethiopia for adopting the antiterrorism proclamation. Since its inception, the elastic terrorism legislation has been dogged by controversy as it further criminalizes freedom of expression and thought. The report examines how the law, enacted in 2009, is a tool of repression, designed and used by the ethiopian government to silence its critics.
If the authorities have credible evidence against any of these journalists, let them present it publicly. Sep 03, 2012 in justifying his antiterrorism law in february 2012, zenawi offered the following mindboggling explanation to his rubberstamp parliament. The command post, whose members are chosen by the pm, was given the mandate to determine and announce which of the restrictions apply where and when. Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom. This is the conclusion reached by the united nations, the worlds leading democracies, international. On wednesday 17 july 20, members of the european parliaments subcommittee on human rights visited ethiopia and urged the government to release journalists and opposition activists imprisoned under the countrys antiterrorism proclamation no. This text may be used free of charge for the purposes of advocacy, campaigning, education, and research, provided that the source is. In practice, however, ethiopian judges have leniently interpreted these requirements, giving them little or no consideration. Commission means the federal ethics and anticorruption commission. Proclamation means the revised anticorruption special procedure and rules of evidence proclamation no. Ethiopian legal information portal find laws, cases, legal. Ethiopias highly controversial antiterrorism law, proclamation no. Since its inception, the elastic terrorism legislation has been dogged by controversy as it further criminalizes freedom of. The 20 edition of the human rights and democracy report of the government of the united kingdom uk severely criticized the government of ethiopia for its application of its antiterrorism proclamation and the charities and societies proclamation, which hampers the activity of the opposition camp of the country.
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