Skip to content
Facebook Twitter
Ethiopian Human Rights Commission – EHRC
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Regions
        • Regions

          EHRC is an independent federal institution tasked with the promotion and protection of human rights in Ethiopia.

        • Addis Ababa
        • Afar
        • Amhara
        • Benishangul Gumuz
        • Gambella
        • Oromia
        • Somali
        • SNNP
        • Tigray
  • Areas of Work
        • Areas of Work

          We are an independent national human rights institution tasked with the promotion & protection of human rights in Ethiopia.

        • Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
        • Civil & Political Rights
        • IDPs, Refugees & Migrants Rights
        • Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Rights of Older Persons
        • Women’s and Children’s Rights
        • HR Monitoring and Investigation
        • Human Rights Education
  • Press Releases
  • Reports
  • Media
    • EHRC on the News
    • EHRC Newsletters
    • EHRC Videos
    • Events
  • Resources
 
Ethiopian Human Rights Commission – EHRCEthiopian Human Rights Commission – EHRC

Addis Ababa – Situation Of Prisoners On Hunger Strike

February 5, 2021May 22, 2021 Press Release

EHRC visits Kaliti Correctional Facility to monitor conditions of detention of Jawar Mohammed, Bekele Gerba, Hamza Adane (Borena), Shemsedin Taha

Twitter Facebook Telegram Email Whatsapp Print

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has deployed a monitoring mission to Kaliti Correctional Facility and Kilinto Prison to monitor the situation of defendants in Jawar Mohammed et al case, who have remained on hunger strike since January 27, 2021, and other prisoners. The Commission’s team visited the said prisons on February 2, 2021 to investigate the current situation of the prisoners on hunger strike and the treatment of Colonel Gemechu Ayana and Tilahun Yemi. EHRC’s monitoring team also talked with the prison administration of both facilities and the prisoners.

During the Commission’s visit to Kaliti Correctional Facility on February 2, 2021, Jawar Mohammed, Bekele Gerba, Hamza Adane (Borena) and Shemsedin Taha had been on hunger strike since January 27, 2021. The prisoners  informed EHRC that the purpose thereof is to “protest the government’s suppression and violation of rights of people and their party; to ask for a stop to the harassment and ill treatment of Colonel Gemechu Ayana and to demand that the mistreatment and imprisonment of the visitors and relatives who attend their hearings and visit them in prison.” 

The Kaliti Correctional Facility administration on its part told EHRC that “most of the demands listed as reasons for the hunger strike are beyond the remit of the administration.” Adding that the administration does not mistreat the prisoners’ visitors, it explained that two of the prisoners on hunger strike are receiving close medical supervision because they have a prior health condition which requires regular medication. The Commission’s team was able to confirm the provision of said medical monitoring. 

EHRC has also visited Colonel Gemechu Ayana and Tilahun Yemi, the safety and security of both of whom was said to be in danger in relation with a video footage filmed from inside prison and circulated on social media. Both of the prisoners are in good health and have suffered no bodily injury. However, Colonel Gemechu Ayana expressed his dismay to the Commission with regards to the harassment he has suffered by being transferred to various holding areas (zones) several times. He also said that he was moved from the holding area (zone) he was in before “to another one that puts his safety at risk”.

The prison administration says that prisoners are regularly moved from one holding area (zone) to another and that there are other prisoners in the same area (zone) as Colonel Gemechu. During the visit, the Commission found one prisoner who had indicated being moved to the area (zone) for breaking prison rules.

Kaliti Prison Administration was preparing to move Colonel Gemechu Ayana to another holding area following EHRC’s recommendations in this regard, when the Federal High Court at a hearing on February 3, 2021, ordered for the prisoner to be returned to Kilinto noting that the prisoner’s transfer to Kaliti did not follow due process. The Commission has confirmed the transfer by visiting the prisoner on February 4, 2021.   

EHRC has also investigated the treatment of Tilahun Yemi, detained on suspicion of assassinating musician Hachalu Hundessa. The prisoner is in good health and has told the Commission that he has not been beaten or otherwise suffered any rights violations in Kilinto. However, he told the Commission that he was mistreated during his detention in a police station.

With regards to the prisoners in Kaliti Correctional Facility who are on a hunger strike, EHRC Chief Commissioner Daniel Bekele said that “very close supervision is required to prevent any grave threat to their health and life and that reasonably justified demands of the prisoners must be addressed.” He added that “during visits to prisons or attending court hearings visitors must be treated properly.”

Location Addis Ababa

Related posts

May 6, 2021July 16, 2021 Press Release
Oromia: Law enforcement operation should be lawful
April 6, 2021February 11, 2023 Press Release
ሶማሌ ክልል: የእስረኞች አያያዝ ሁኔታ ልዩ ትኩረት ይሻል
February 8, 2021May 22, 2021 EHRC on the News
Joint Statement by EU High Representative / Vice-President Borrell, Commissioner Urpilainen & Commissioner Lenarčič
August 11, 2020February 11, 2023 Press Release
"በወላይታ ዞን የጸጥታ ሃይሎች በተቃውሞ ሰልፈኞች ላይ ተመጣጣኝ ያልሆነ ኃይል ከመጠቀም ሊቆጠቡ ይገባል!"-ኢሰመኮ

Signup for the Latest Update from EHRC

Submit your email to singup
Facebook Like us on FacebookTwitter Follow us on Twitter

Useful Links

  • NANHRI
  • GANHRI
  • OHCHR
  • ACHPR

Get Involved

  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Telegram Bot

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
EHRC
We are an independent national human rights
institution tasked with the promotion & protection of
human rights in Ethiopia
Submit your email to get the latest update from EHRC

Address: Sunshine Tower No. 5, Meskel Square, on Bole Road next to Hyatt Regency Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251115504031 | Fax: +251 11 550 4125 | PO Box 1165 Addis Ababa | Email: info@ehrc.org

© 2023 Copyright Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC). All Rights Reserved. Powered by 360Ground

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Scroll to top
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Our Team
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Regions
    • Addis Ababa
    • Afar
    • Amhara
    • Benishangul Gumuz
    • Gambella
    • Oromia
    • Somali
    • SNNP
    • Tigray
  • Areas of Work
    • Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
    • Civil & Political Rights
    • IDPs, Refugees & Migrants Rights
    • Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Rights of Older Persons
    • Women’s and Children’s Rights
    • HR Monitoring and Investigation
    • Human Rights Education
  • Press Releases
  • Reports
  • Media
    • EHRC on the News
    • EHRC Videos
    • Newsletters
    • Events
  • Resources
Facebook Twitter
Search
Ethiopian Human Rights Commission - EHRC
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.