Olympian and Other Eritreans Freed After 18 Years Without Facing Charges, Relatives Report
Thirteen individuals detained for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been released from a notorious military prison, as stated by family members of the prisoners.
Among those freed were a number of prominent figures, such as 69-year-old Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa prison, known for its harsh conditions and where many inmates are believed to be political prisoners.
Details of the Arrest
An unnamed source who was once detained in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an assassination attempt on a senior state security official in the government.
Around 30 people were initially detained, according to the source. Some have been freed in the intervening period, but about 20 stayed imprisoned.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Games 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 increasingly earned global acclaim in recent years.
List of Released
The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen 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 released as well.
The Eritrean government has not issued any statement regarding the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are in poor health and this could explain why they have been released now.
Families were prohibited to visit the prisoners throughout their detention, the relatives said.
International Condemnation and Detention Environment
The UN and human rights groups have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, encompassing ill-treatment, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.
Mai Serwa prison, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, sources have indicated.
Background on Political Control
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no active constitutional framework. It is one of the most militarised societies, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been an absence of independent media since the closure of independent newspapers and arrest of most of their staff in 2001.
This was when the government detained 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the head of state implement the proposed constitution and conduct democratic polls.
According to rights groups, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Now 79 years old, the president marked 32 years in office and has yet to participate in an election.
