We call for release of Seyoum Tsehaye

September 29, 2016

Freedom of Thought

At its largest-ever Annual Conference in Edinburgh last week, HSS members called for the release of Seyoum Tsehaye.

Seyoum Tsehaye has been illegally held in jail since 2001. At independence in 1993, Tsehaye was named to the head of television and eventually radio in the country but has been in jail since September 2001 when President Isaias Afewerki closed all non-governmental media sources. In December 2007, Tsehaye was named Reporter of the Year by Reporters Without Borders.

Seyoum Tsehaye (born 1952) is a jailed Eritrean journalist.

In September of 2001, Eritrea officially became a dictatorship. The government closed down all free press and imprisoned all journalists and politicians that in some ways had asked for a more democratic country. Since then, countless more journalists, politicians and civilians have been imprisoned, vanished and killed.

HSS member and human rights campaigner Cathy Crawford commented:

“I was so pleased that the Conference participants were willing to take part in the photo to show solidarity. We had been discussing the Human Rights Act and it does seem important to remember those who have to live with the consequences of not having any of these rights.”

Notes:

For more information contact Gary McLelland on 07813060713 or gary@humanism.scot.

About HSS:

Humanist Society Scotland seeks to represent the views of people in Scotland who wish to lead ethical and fulfilling lives guided by reason, empathy and compassion. We provide a range of non-religious ceremonies and campaign for a secular state. HSS has over 14,000 members across Scotland.