Olympian and Several Eritreans Released After 18 Years Without Trial, Relatives Say
Thirteen individuals held for more than 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been released from a notorious military prison, according to family members of the prisoners.
Those released were several prominent figures, including elderly Olympian cyclist and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa prison, known for its harsh conditions and where many detainees are considered 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 attempted assassination on a senior state security official in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were originally arrested, according to the source. Some have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen remained in custody.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted cycling culture and its cyclists have steadily gained international recognition in recent years.
List of Freed
The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber include prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a surveyor.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an state security officer were released as well.
The Eritrean government has not issued any statement regarding the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been freed now.
Families were not allowed to visit the prisoners throughout their incarceration, the family members reported.
International Condemnation and Prison Conditions
The UN and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, encompassing torture, forced disappearance and the detention of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, situated about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, according to reports.
Background on Government Rule
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has continued to be a single-party nation with no active constitutional framework. It is among the world's most militarized countries, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been no free press since the shutdown of independent newspapers and arrest of most of their editors and journalists in 2001.
This occurred after the government detained 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the president put into effect the draft constitution and conduct democratic polls.
Per rights groups, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, remain unknown.
Now 79 years old, the leader recently passed 32 years in office and has still never faced an election.
