Ethiopia: Meaza Mohammed - Third Woman Journalist Detained As Authorities Crackdown On “Illegal Activity”

Location: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa      
Date: May 30, 2022

*Updated May 31, 2022

Digital journalist Meaza Mohammed is the latest woman media worker to be detained as authorities ramp up arrests in the country. The recent wave of violations against the press has seen journalists’ houses and offices raided by security forces and multiple arrests since the Ethiopian government launched a “law enforcement operation” on May 19 against alleged illegal activity. At least 18 journalists have been detained thus far.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns the continued state suppression of critical and dissenting voices in the country. We call for the immediate release of Meaza and other arrested journalists and call on the authorities to let the independent press work freely without fear of government retaliation. 

Meaza, co-founder and host of YouTube-based media outlet Roha TV, was taken from her colleague’s house in the morning on May 28, 2022. Ethiopian media outlet Addis Standard reported that security forces in civilian clothes stormed Meaza’s coworker's house and confiscated digital devices. The raid party left with Meaza in custody. According to her husband, Robel Tesfaye, the journalist’s whereabouts are yet to be disclosed. This is the second time that the journalist has been arbitrarily detained in less than six months. 

Meaza’s YouTube channel, Roha TV, features coverage of the opposition party’s statements and reports about recent events in Ethiopia. On December 9, 2021, the channel aired a documentary about sexual violence allegedly committed by rebel soldiers. It featured interviews with survivors from the Amhara region. Meaza was taken by law enforcement officials shortly after the documentary went up. At the time, her husband said that the police did not specify charges against the journalist but said they were detaining her for doing media work without a license from the Ethiopia Media Authority. The journalist was released over a month later on January 18, 2022. 

She is now the third woman journalist to be arrested in recent weeks. On May 26, Sabontu, a journalist with Finfinnee Integrated Broadcasting (FIB) was detained by two security officials while on her way home from work. According to FIB, she was taken to Addis Ababa Police Station in the Lebu area of the capital and held overnight. 

FIB Executive Director Lami Taye told Addis Standard that Sabontu is an entertainment journalist at the outlet and was detained on “orders from other bodies”. Taye said when they went to visit the journalist at the police station they were told she was taken by “members of intelligence”. 

“When we went to Addis Ababa Police and inquired why she was detained, who [was responsible] and why she hasn’t been taken to court, we were told, ‘we have no issue with her, we were told to detain her’,” local media quoted Taye as saying. He added that the station officers express “suspicions that it might be the Oromia Police”.

The Oromia Journalists Association (OJA) issued a statement the following morning calling for Sabontu’s immediate release. She was detained for reasons yet undisclosed and without a court warrant, observed the media body. “We believe the government has a responsibility to apply effort so that media professionals can work without any fear since such acts of arresting media innocent professionals without any court warrants during the night on the road is an impediment to the installation of the democratic process our country has embarked on and furthermore such acts are incompatible with global standards and those of journalism itself.” 

Sabontu was later released on May 27 without any charges specified, but told by the police that “they will call her when she is needed”. 

Last week, the CFWIJ documented the arrests of another YouTube-based independent media outlet Ethio Nekat Media’s founding editor Meskerem Abera and 10 other journalists. The number of arrested journalists has now risen to at least 18. 

The recent wave of media crackdown comes after the Ethiopian government launched a “law enforcement” operation against alleged illegal activity. Around 4,500 people have reportedly been arrested since May 19, 2022. According to a statement issued by the federal government, the authorities are taking action against those “engaged in illegal activities, intentionally causing public alarm and turmoil, as well as those who are working to cause violence and disturbance among the public under the disguise of journalism and media work”. Most arrests thus far have been made in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and the northern Amhara state. 

Meskerem was arrested at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa on her return from Amhara state capital Bahir Dar. She was taken to the Addis Ababa Police Commission’s offices and charged with inciting public violence through her media appearances. Her lawyer Henok Aklilu said that Meskerem was produced before the court on May 23 and 24, and is now due to appear on June 6. 

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has also confirmed the arrests of at least 18 journalists thus far and has strongly denounced them. The rights body reiterated that “Ethiopia’s media law clearly prohibits pre-trial detention for any alleged offense committed through media”.

Detention of journalists and media personnel: Update!@EthioHRC reiterates that #Ethiopia’s media law clearly prohibits pre-trial detention for any alleged offence committed through media #HumanRightsForAll https://t.co/iJC5ffHuBa

— Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) (@EthioHRC) May 28, 2022

“The arrest of media personnel is particularly alarming because it is contrary to the Media Law and its repercussions extend beyond media space and freedom of expression,” notedEHRC Chief Commissioner Daniel Bekele, in a statement issued earlier. 

Nearly all arrested journalists are associated with independent media outlets critical of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government and its policies or in connection with their coverage of the government’s response to the Fano militia, an armed volunteer youth group, which reportedly had been helping the federal government in the Tigray war. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is extremely concerned for the safety of women journalists in the country. These arrests reflect a dire state for press freedom in Ethiopia. We condemn the arrests of Meaza Mohammed, Meskerem Abera, Sabontu Ahmed and other journalists and call for their immediate release. The authorities must allow the press to do its job and report on matters of public concern without trying to quash independent coverage of the country’s internal conflicts. The country’s and the government’s interests would be better served if they focus on wrongdoings and concerns raised by journalists instead of moving against the persons reporting such issues. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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