Magazine Story Now Out On Bail
International Federation of Journalists (Brussels)
PRESS RELEASE
15 May 2008
Posted to the web 16 May 2008
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the
Ethiopian authorities to drop charges against Alemayehu Mahtemework,
the editor of monthly entertainment magazine Enku, and three others who
were arrested with him after the publication of a cover story about a jailed
popular singer.
Mahtemework and three others, who have not been identified, appeared in
court on May 6. The trial will resume on May 19. The charges are still not
clear but local sources say the four are accused of publishing "stirring
articles that could incite people." The defendants were held for five days
before being released on bail.
"There is no need to hold a trial when there is no offence," said Gabriel
Baglo, the Director of the IFJ Africa Office. "We call on the authorities to
drop all the legal proceedings against Mahtemework and the three people
arrested with him and to allow the magazine to work in total freedom."
The case stems from Enku's cover story for its latest edition on Ethiopia's
most famous pop singer Tewodros Kassahun. Kassahun, known as Teddy
Afro, is on trial for murder for a hit-and-run incident in 2006. He is
well-known for his songs critical of the government and his fans have
protested his trial.
Mahtemework and his three co-defendants were arrested by police on the
evening of 2 May in a van carrying 10,000 copies of the magazine for
distribution. All the copies were seized. After their first court appearance
this week, the judge gave police 14 more days to finalize evidence against
the defendants and other journalists who worked on the Teddy Afro story.
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120
International Federation of Journalists (Brussels)
PRESS RELEASE
15 May 2008
Posted to the web 16 May 2008
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the
Ethiopian authorities to drop charges against Alemayehu Mahtemework,
the editor of monthly entertainment magazine Enku, and three others who
were arrested with him after the publication of a cover story about a jailed
popular singer.
Mahtemework and three others, who have not been identified, appeared in
court on May 6. The trial will resume on May 19. The charges are still not
clear but local sources say the four are accused of publishing "stirring
articles that could incite people." The defendants were held for five days
before being released on bail.
"There is no need to hold a trial when there is no offence," said Gabriel
Baglo, the Director of the IFJ Africa Office. "We call on the authorities to
drop all the legal proceedings against Mahtemework and the three people
arrested with him and to allow the magazine to work in total freedom."
The case stems from Enku's cover story for its latest edition on Ethiopia's
most famous pop singer Tewodros Kassahun. Kassahun, known as Teddy
Afro, is on trial for murder for a hit-and-run incident in 2006. He is
well-known for his songs critical of the government and his fans have
protested his trial.
Mahtemework and his three co-defendants were arrested by police on the
evening of 2 May in a van carrying 10,000 copies of the magazine for
distribution. All the copies were seized. After their first court appearance
this week, the judge gave police 14 more days to finalize evidence against
the defendants and other journalists who worked on the Teddy Afro story.
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120
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