Olympic Athlete and Several Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Report
Thirteen individuals detained for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military detention facility, as stated by family members of the prisoners.
Among those freed were several prominent figures, such as 69-year-old Olympian cyclist and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its severe environment and where many inmates are considered political prisoners.
Circumstances Surrounding the Detention
An unnamed source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 after an assassination attempt on a senior internal security officer in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals 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 competed in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted cycling culture and its cyclists have steadily gained global acclaim over the past decade.
Those Among the Freed
Those released with 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 state security officer were also freed.
The Eritrean government has not issued any statement regarding the releases.
A significant number of the former detainees are in poor health and this could explain why they have been released now.
Relatives were prohibited to see the prisoners during their detention, the family members said.
Global Criticism and Detention Environment
United Nations bodies and human rights groups have consistently criticized the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, enforced disappearances and the detention 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 incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, sources have indicated.
Context of Political Control
For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no functioning constitution. 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 editors and journalists in 2001.
This was when the government detained 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president put into effect the draft constitution and hold open elections.
According to rights groups, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Aged 79, the leader recently passed 32 years in office and has still never faced an election.
