for freedom of Expression
Last month, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) declared that Eritrea is the world’s most censored country, worse even than North Korea or Turkmenistan. Their survey highlights the fact that independent media was banned in 2001; that at least 16 Eritrean journalists are behind bars, making the government the worst jailer of journalists in sub-Saharan
“PEN is building on the Manifesto this year by highlighting the work of five women writers and activists who have been on the forefront of literature and free expression across the world. PEN is proud to highlight:” “Yirgalem Fisseha Mebrahtu, an Eritrean poet, journalist and writer. After the government closed all independent media in 2001,
“So far, the major achievement has been to demystify the seemingly ‘untouchable’ regime and conquer the pervasive fear.” “Since January, Eritrean social media, later amplified by the diaspora-based media that reach the country, has been generating a flood of calls to stand together in the face of the growing repression. Many have declared unanimously #EnoughIsEnough.
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“On the 27th anniversary of Eritrea’s independence, Isaias Afwerki should remember what he once said about democracy.” featured by Abraham Zere on Aljazeera. Today marks the 27th anniversary of Eritrea’s independence, hard-won after a 30-year war with Ethiopia. On this day, as we rightfully celebrate, we should also reflect on the overall state of
Amanuel Asrat, is an award-winning Eritrean poet, critic, songwriter, and editor-in-chief of the leading newspaper ዘመን (Zemen, meaning The Times), has been detained incommunicado for over 16 years. Asrat was arrested at his home on the morning of 23 September 2001 amid a crackdown on state and private media. Other independent journalists, opposition politicians and students
When Eseyas “Haleka” Debesay (known for singing praise songs to the president) joined forces with the Yohannes sisters to upload a “patriotic” song that mocked the youth fleeing the country, for instance, the response was immediate. The video accumulated more than 30,000 “dislikes” in under a week, before the “dislike” and “like” buttons were disabled.
Tiffany Haddish doesn’t shy away from expressing herself on the political aspects of American life — including the persistent racism in comedy — but hasn’t felt the need to comment on Eritrean politics. She could hardly be faulted for that, after all, her only link with Eritrea was her father whom she hardly knew. When
Sixteen years on from the crackdown on dissent in Eritrea, English PEN is proud to launch a special report by writer-in-residence Eyob Teklay Ghilazghy Eritrea: a muzzled state (Exceprted from English Pen) “Today marks the sixteen-year anniversary of the crackdown on dissent in Eritrea, in which twelve journalists were arrested for their free expression work.