Journalist Muhyadin Abdullahi Remains Imprisoned Despite Court Order Muhyadin Abdullahi, a journalist from the Harari region of Ethiopia, remains unlawfully detained despite a court order for his release. Abdullahi, who was arrested in January 2022, was accused of terrorism-related offenses. However, a court ruled in May 2022 that there was insufficient evidence to support these charges and ordered his release. Despite the court order, Abdullahi remains imprisoned at Maekelawi, a notorious detention center in Addis Ababa. His family and colleagues have repeatedly petitioned the authorities for his release, but their requests have been ignored. Abdullahi’s arrest and continued detention are part of a wider crackdown on journalists and dissent in Ethiopia. The country has been under a state of emergency since November 2021, which has granted the government sweeping powers to detain and prosecute dissidents. Several other journalists have also been detained in recent months, including Eskinder Nega, a prominent opposition figure who was arrested in July 2022. Nega has been charged with terrorism-related offenses and is currently on trial. The detention of journalists and the suppression of dissent have drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations. Amnesty International has called on the Ethiopian government to immediately release Abdullahi and Nega, and to end its crackdown on journalists and freedom of expression. The United Nations Human Rights Council has also expressed concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Ethiopia. In a resolution adopted in October 2022, the Council called on the government to respect freedom of expression and to investigate allegations of arbitrary detention and torture. Abdullahi’s continued imprisonment despite a court order is a clear violation of the Ethiopian constitution and international law. It is imperative that the Ethiopian government uphold its obligations to respect human rights and release Abdullahi and all other journalists who have been unjustly detained.Harari Journalist Remains in Prison Despite Court Order for ReleaseHarari Journalist Remains in Prison Despite Court Order for Release Addis Ababa – Muhyadin Abdullahi, a journalist employed by the state media agency Harari, remains in prison despite a court order issued on June 17, 2024, ordering his release, according to his wife. His wife, Helan Jamal, revealed that Muhyadin posted bail of 10,000 birr yesterday, but he remained in prison until this morning. Addis Standard reviewed the court order of the Harari High Court, which grants bail to Muhyadin in the amount of 10,000 birr and is addressed to the Harari State Regional Police Commission. Muhyadin, editor of the Afaan Oromoo program of the Harari media agency, was jailed at 2 pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024, according to his wife. “The allegation arose from his comment on social media about the Harari State President’s handling of the water supply issue, which led to his arrest by the authorities,” she said. Harari Regional State President Ordin Bedri recently announced plans to address the city’s chronic water shortage. He highlighted the various actions and efforts undertaken by the government to resolve the problem. “The accusation Muhyadin faces stems from his Facebook post criticizing the announcement by the president of the Harari region on measures to resolve the water deficit in the region,” Helen said. She revealed that Muhyadin is currently detained at the Harari Police Commission detention center. “However, the police station refused to comply, stating that they had not received the court order.” However, she noted, “the prison guard informed me that the head of the regional ruling party had ordered them not to release Muhyadin.” At yesterday’s court session, the prosecutor appealed the decision to release the journalist, but the court rejected the appeal and upheld the decision to release him, according to Helen. “Shortly after, he packed up his belongings and left the prison. However, the lawyer intervened, blocked his way, and returned him to prison.” In May 2022, Muhayadin was arrested at his office in connection with a social media post. After spending nine days in police custody, he was released. Muhyadin Abdullahi is not the only journalist detained in recent months due to social media posts critical of government officials. Muhiyadin Mohamed Abdullahi, a journalist operating in the Somalia region, was detained on February 13, 2024, by regional security personnel from his residence in Jigjiga, the capital of the Somalia regional state, for his social media posts about the traffic congestion caused by the visit of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. On May 2, 2024, Muhiyadin Mohamed was sentenced to two years in prison by the Fafen Area High Court in Jigjiga. A recent report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) identified Ethiopia as the third worst country in Africa for imprisoning journalists in 2023. The number of imprisoned Ethiopian journalists had risen to eight by the end of last year, highlighting the significant challenges facing the country’s media landscape.