Sep 11, 2012 (QOL) Qorahay Media Journalist Group welcomes the release of Journalist Martin Schibbey and photographer Johan Persson who were sentenced to 11 years in prison by the Ethiopian government.

The two Swedish journalists have been imprisoned in Ethiopia for more than a year after they were attacked and later arrested by the Ethiopian forces in the Ogaden region on July 1, 2011,
At the time of their arrest the two men were trying to report on the human rights abuses committed by the Ethiopian army against the civilians in the Ogaden.

The Ethiopian government imposed a total humanitarian, economic and media blockade on the Ogaden region, where international humanitarian aid organizations and media outlets have all been denied access to the region.

Even though we are pleased to hear their release, the Ethiopian government continues to deny freedom of speech and there are still hundreds of innocent journalists that are languishing in the harsh Ethiopian prisons.

Therefore we urge all international journalists’ organizations around the world to unite, to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists. To condemn the arbitrary detentions and arrests of journalists who are simply conducting their duty of reporting.

Lastly we call upon all international media and journalist organizations to pressure the Ethiopian government to allow all international media an unhindered access in the Ogaden region.

We also call upon the international community to hold the Ethiopian government accountable for its crimes against the innocent civilians in the Ogaden. To play an active role in achieving peace and stability in this region by finding a lasting political resolution that would allow the people in the Ogaden a referendum to self-determination.

Qorahay Media Journalist Group

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