Ethiopia: New Report Calls On Ethiopia to Reform Repressive Anti-Terror Law
Ethiopia's use of sweeping anti-terrorism law to imprison journalists and other legislative restrictions are hindering the development of free and independent media in Africa's second largest country, according to a report published today by the International Press Institute (IPI). Dozens of journalists and political activists have been arrested or sentenced under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation of 2009, including five journalists who are serving prison sentences and who at times have been denied access to visitors and legal counsel. The report, "Press Freedom in Ethiopia", is based on a mission to the country carried out in November by IPI and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). "Despite a strong constitutional basis for press freedom and freedom of information, the Ethiopian government has systematically used the anti-terrorism law to prosecute and frighten journalists, which has put a straight-jacket on the media,"