(28 Dec 2011, The Independent)--Call for international action on appeal as court convicts journalists of supporting terrorism. Ethopia has been widely condemned for jailing two Swedish journalists for 11 years for supporting terrorism after they were arrested while travelling with a rebel group in the restive east of the country.
Rights groups have criticised the harsh sentences for Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye, who were caught six months ago after illegally entering the Ogaden region of Ethiopia to investigate alleged abuses by security forces.
The area is home to the country's Somali minority and off-limits to outside observers as the government continues a brutal counter-insurgency against rebel group the Ogaden National Liberation Front. Authorities in Addis Ababa accused the Swedes of promoting the ONLF but supporters say the government is making an example of the pair to discourage others from reporting in the Ogaden region.
The ethnic Somali group is banned in Ethiopia, where it is classified as a terrorist organisation. Outlawed groups around the world regularly invite foreign journalists to travel with them in order to give their side of the story. Read more from The Independent »
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Rights groups have criticised the harsh sentences for Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye, who were caught six months ago after illegally entering the Ogaden region of Ethiopia to investigate alleged abuses by security forces.
The area is home to the country's Somali minority and off-limits to outside observers as the government continues a brutal counter-insurgency against rebel group the Ogaden National Liberation Front. Authorities in Addis Ababa accused the Swedes of promoting the ONLF but supporters say the government is making an example of the pair to discourage others from reporting in the Ogaden region.
The ethnic Somali group is banned in Ethiopia, where it is classified as a terrorist organisation. Outlawed groups around the world regularly invite foreign journalists to travel with them in order to give their side of the story. Read more from The Independent »
Related topics:
Ethiopia: Swedish journalists must be released immediately and unconditionally
Statement by the spokesperson of High Representative Catherine Ashton on the judgement against two Swedish journalists
Ethiopia - Two Swedish journalists sentenced to 11 years in prison
Jailed Swedes 'innocent': Ethiopian rebels
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