Olympic Athlete and Several Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Report
Thirteen individuals detained for more than 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been released from a notorious military prison, as stated by family members of the detainees.
Those released were several prominent figures, such as 69-year-old Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its harsh conditions and where many inmates are considered detained for political reasons.
Details of the Detention
An unnamed source who was once detained in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an attempted assassination on a high-ranking state security official in the government.
Around 30 people were originally arrested, according to the source. Some have been released over the years, but about 20 stayed imprisoned.
Profile of an Athlete
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its riders have increasingly earned international recognition in recent years.
Those Among the Freed
Those released alongside Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an internal security agent were released as well.
The Eritrean government has not issued any statement concerning the releases of the detainees.
Many of them are sick and this may be the reason why they have been freed now.
Relatives were not allowed to visit the prisoners during their detention, the family members reported.
International Criticism and Detention Environment
The UN and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, including ill-treatment, enforced disappearances and the detention of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa facility, located about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, according to reports.
Context of Political Rule
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no active constitutional framework. It is one of the most militarised societies, 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 staff in 2001.
This was when the government arrested 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the president implement the proposed constitution and hold open elections.
According to advocacy organizations, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Aged 79, the president marked 32 years in office and has still never faced an electoral contest.
