Olympian and Several Eritreans Freed After 18 Years Without Trial, Family Members Say
Thirteen individuals detained for over 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been released from a notorious military prison, as stated by family members 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 incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, renowned for its severe environment and where many detainees are considered detained for political reasons.
Details of the Detention
A 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 internal security officer in the government.
Around 30 people were originally arrested, according to the source. A number have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen stayed imprisoned.
The Story of an Olympian
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong tradition of cycling and its riders have steadily gained global acclaim over the past decade.
List of Released
The individuals freed with Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen 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 may be the reason why they have been freed at this time.
Families were prohibited to see the prisoners during their incarceration, the relatives reported.
International Criticism and Prison Conditions
United Nations bodies and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of many 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, sources have indicated.
Background on 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 indefinite military conscription.
There has been an absence of independent media since the shutdown of independent newspapers and arrest of most of their staff in 2001.
This was when the government arrested 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the head of state implement the draft constitution and hold open elections.
Per rights groups, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Now 79 years old, the leader recently passed 32 years in office and has still never faced an election.
