Journalist Temesghen Desalegn denied Access to Medical Care in Jail

Authorities in Ethiopia have denied medical attention to journalist Temesghen Desalegn, who has been imprisoned since October.

Temesghen Desalegn, owner of the now-defunct newsmagazine Feteh (Justice), is serving a three-year term in Ziway Prison, outside Addis Ababa, on charges of defamation, incitement, and false publication in connection with a series of opinion pieces he wrote in Feteh in 2012.

Friends close to Temesghen, including two who visit him in prison, said  Temesghen suffers from stomach and back pain for which he used to receive weekly medical support before he was jailed. They said that Temesghen has been denied medical access since he was imprisoned and that his back pain has worsened to the point that walking is difficult for him.

Earlier this year, prison authorities denied Temesghen prison visits from friends and family for more than a month. It is believed that he had been denied prison visits after an article he wrote from prison was published in several Ethiopia news websites. The articles detailed the mistreatment of prisoners at Ziway Prison.

Temesghen often criticized the authorities in his articles. In 2012, he wrote two articles that discussed the peaceful struggles of Ethiopian youth movements for political change. He also wrote two columns that criticized alleged government efforts to violently suppress student protesters and ethnic minorities reviewed.

The Ethiopian government is holding at least 17 journalists and bloggers in jail. Dozens of journalists fled Ethiopia in 2014 fearing arrest. The government had cracked down on the press in order to silence critical voices ahead of May 2015 legislative elections.

The 1994 constitution of Ethiopia provides in its fundamental rights and freedoms section, specifically under Article 21, the following regarding the rights of persons held in custody and convicted prisoners:

1. All persons held in custody and persons imprisoned upon conviction and sentencing have the right to treatments respecting their human dignity;

2. All persons shall have the opportunity to communicate with, and to be visited by their spouses or partners, close relatives, friends, religious councilors, medical doctors and their legal counsel.

The responsibility of ensuring that the rights set out under Article 21 are fully respected primarily lies on the government. Therefore Ethiopia must respect article 21 of the constitution.

Temesghen  has not committed any crime. He is being punished for his criticism of the Ethiopian government. Free journalist Temesgen Desalegn!