Olympic Athlete and Other Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Facing Charges, Family Members Say
Thirteen individuals held for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been released from a notorious military detention facility, according to relatives of the detainees.
Among those freed were a number of well-known individuals, including 69-year-old Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its severe environment and where many detainees are considered detained for political reasons.
Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest
An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated 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, according to the source. A number have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen remained in custody.
The Story of an Athlete
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong cycling culture and its cyclists have increasingly earned international recognition over the past decade.
Those Among the Freed
Those released with Zeragaber comprise notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an engineer, and Matthews, a geometrist.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an internal security agent were also freed.
The Eritrean government has not issued any statement regarding the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been freed at this time.
Families were prohibited to visit the prisoners throughout their detention, the family members said.
International Criticism and Detention Environment
The UN and human rights groups have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of serious abuses, including torture, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, located about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, according to reports.
Context of Political Control
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is one of the most militarized countries, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been no free press since the closure of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001.
This occurred after the government arrested 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the president put into effect 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 marked 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an electoral contest.
