Olympian and Several Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Report
Thirteen individuals detained for more than 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military prison, as stated by relatives of the prisoners.
Among those freed were a number of prominent figures, such as 69-year-old Olympian cyclist and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa prison, known for its harsh conditions and where many detainees are believed to be political prisoners.
Details of the Arrest
A source who was once detained in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a senior state security official in the government.
Around 30 people were initially detained, per the source. Some have been freed over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.
The Story of an Olympian
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within 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 riders have increasingly earned international recognition over the past decade.
List of Released
The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber include prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an engineer, and Matthews, a surveyor.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were released as well.
The Eritrean government has made no official comment regarding the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are in poor health and this may be the reason why they have been released at this time.
Families were not allowed to visit the prisoners throughout their detention, the relatives said.
Global Condemnation and Prison Conditions
United Nations bodies and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, including torture, forced disappearance and the detention of tens of thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa facility, located about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has grown over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Context of Political Rule
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no active constitutional framework. It is one of the most militarized countries, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been an absence of independent media since the shutdown of independent newspapers and detention of most of their staff in 2001.
This was when the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president implement the draft constitution and hold open elections.
According to advocacy organizations, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Aged 79, the president marked 32 years in office and has yet to participate in an election.