This posting is part of our Write-a-Thon Cases Series. For more information visit www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon/
© AI Birtukan Mideksa
Birtukan Mideksa, an opposition party leader, is serving a life sentence in Kaliti Prison in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She was previously arrested in November 2005 after the Coalition for Unity and Democracy party, of which she was a leader, disputed the results of local and parliamentary elections.
Post-election demonstrations turned violent — security forces shot dead 187 people and wounded 765 others, while at least six police officers were also killed. Birtukan Mideksa was charged with treason among other charges, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Local elders working with detainees negotiated a process which led to a pardon by Ethiopian authorities. Birtukan Mideksa and others were released in June 2007 after serving more than 18 months in prison. The exact terms of the pardon remain unclear.
In November 2008 Birtukan Mideksa spoke at a public meeting in Sweden about her pardon and the process that led to her release. When she returned to Ethiopia, authorities asked her to retract her statement. She refused and was re-arrested in December 2008, when the Ministry of Justice revoked her pardon and re-imposed her life sentence.
Amnesty International considers her a prisoner of conscience, imprisoned for peacefully exercising her right to freedom of expression and association.
who can I write to about the release of Birtukan?
who can I write to about the release of Birtukan?
1.To the President of the United States.
2. Secretary of State Department- Hilary Clinton
3. UN and your congressmen and Senators.
Mobilizing like minded people and polorizing the issue may help release
this dynamic young lady who is an example for uplifting democracy!
I will do the same and thanks for your concern.
1.To the President of the United States.
2. Secretary of State Department- Hilary Clinton
3. UN and your congressmen and Senators.
Mobilizing like minded people and polorizing the issue may help release
this dynamic young lady who is an example for uplifting democracy!
I will do the same and thanks for your concern.
That's a very strong woman! I don't think I could have risked being locked up again. It's because of people like this that any progress is ever made.
I have recently watched these series and they were pretty interesting for me to know about many new things. I am really interested to know more about the things that are in this post.