The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is monitoring the situation of media personnel Kibrom Worku, Tamrat Negera, Meaza Mohammed and Eyasped Tesfaye who are currently in detention. While the Commission is in discussion with relevant authorities on their situation, it is gravely concerned that the whereabouts and the current situation of Tamrat Negera and Kibrom Worku have not been disclosed to their families and legal counsel as of the time of release of this statement – which constitutes a violation of their visitation right. Tamrat Negera was detained on December 10, 2021 and Kibrom Worku is in detention since October 26, 2021 despite a court order on November 18, 2021 granting him bail and since which date his family and legal counsel have lost contact with him. Visitation rights should be respected and guaranteed even under a state of emergency.
EHRC therefore urges for the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of both detainees to their families and legal counsel and to guarantee their visitation rights. The Commission also reiterates that the relevant authorities should closely monitor that the state of emergency proclamation is implemented in a manner that strictly adheres to human rights principles.
