Olympian and Other Eritreans Freed After 18 Years Without Trial, Relatives Say
A group of thirteen people held for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a infamous military detention facility, as stated by family members of the prisoners.
Among those freed were a number of well-known individuals, including elderly Olympian cyclist and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, renowned for its severe environment and where many inmates are believed to be detained for political reasons.
Details of the Arrest
A source who was once detained in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a high-ranking state security official in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were initially detained, according to the source. A number have been released in the intervening period, but about 20 remained in custody.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong tradition of cycling and its cyclists have increasingly earned international recognition in recent years.
Those Among the Released
The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber comprise notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor.
Six senior police officers and an internal security agent were also freed.
The Eritrean government has not issued any statement concerning the releases.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been freed now.
Relatives were not allowed to visit the prisoners throughout their incarceration, the family members reported.
International Criticism and Detention Environment
The UN and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including ill-treatment, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has expanded over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Background on Government Control
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no functioning constitution. It is one of the most militarised societies, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been an absence of independent media since the shutdown of independent newspapers and arrest of most of their editors and journalists in 2001.
This occurred after the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the head of state implement the proposed constitution and conduct democratic polls.
Per advocacy organizations, the fate and whereabouts 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 president marked 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an election.