Olympian and Other Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Say
Thirteen individuals detained for more than 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been released from a infamous military prison, as stated by family members of the detainees.
Among those freed were several prominent figures, such as elderly Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa detention center, renowned for its harsh conditions and where many inmates are believed to be political prisoners.
Details of the Detention
A source who was previously held in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an assassination attempt on a high-ranking internal security officer in the government.
Around 30 people were initially detained, per the source. A number have been freed in the intervening period, but roughly two dozen remained in custody.
The Story of an Olympian
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The mountainous country, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its riders have increasingly earned global acclaim in recent years.
Those Among the Released
The individuals freed with Zeragaber comprise prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an engineer, and Matthews, a geometrist.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an internal security agent were released as well.
The Eritrean government has remained silent concerning the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been freed at this time.
Families were not allowed to see the prisoners during their detention, the relatives said.
Global Criticism and Detention Environment
United Nations bodies and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, including torture, enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.
Mai Serwa facility, situated 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 without contact, sources have indicated.
Background on Political Rule
For the past thirty years, Eritrea has continued to be a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is among the world's most militarised societies, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been an absence of independent media since the closure of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001.
This occurred after the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president implement the proposed constitution and hold open elections.
Per 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.
Now 79 years old, the president recently passed 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an electoral contest.