Olympian and Several Eritreans Released After Nearly Two Decades Without Facing Charges, Relatives Report
A group of thirteen people detained for more than 18 years without being formally charged in Eritrea have been freed from a infamous military prison, according to relatives of the prisoners.
Among those freed were a number of well-known individuals, including 69-year-old Olympian cyclist and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, renowned for its harsh conditions and where many inmates are believed to be detained for political reasons.
Circumstances Surrounding the Arrest
A source who was once detained in Mai Serwa indicated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 following an attempted assassination on a high-ranking state security official in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were originally arrested, per the source. Some have been released in the intervening period, but about 20 remained in custody.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber competed in the Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Eritrea was a region within Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, possesses a deep-rooted tradition of cycling and its riders have increasingly earned global acclaim over the past decade.
List of Released
Those released with Zeragaber comprise notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist.
Six senior police officers and an state security officer were also freed.
The Eritrean government has remained silent regarding the releases.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been released at this time.
Relatives were not allowed to visit the prisoners during their detention, the relatives reported.
International Condemnation and Detention Environment
The UN and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of serious abuses, encompassing torture, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of many thousands of people in inhumane conditions.
Mai Serwa prison, situated about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has expanded over the years to include 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held without contact, sources have indicated.
Background on Government Control
For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no functioning constitution. It is among the world's most militarised societies, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been an absence of independent media since the shutdown of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001.
This occurred after the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the head of state implement the draft constitution and conduct democratic polls.
According to advocacy organizations, the fate and whereabouts of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Aged 79, the president marked 32 years in power and has still never faced an election.