Thursday, May 16, 2013

Ethiopian Journalist Arrested Over Article About Former PM's Wife

(May 2013, (ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA))--An Ethiopian journalist has been arrested and interrogated for writing an article about the wife of late prime minister Meles Zenawi. Wednesday's arrest came as a surprise since the article was published seven months ago.

Ethiopian journalist Ferew Abebe, editor-in-chief of the weekly publication Sendek, said he was summoned Wednesday to the Federal Police Crime Investigation Department office. He was interrogated about an article he wrote and published seven months ago and was accused of defaming the former first lady, Azeb Mesfin.

Ferew said he was very surprised about the interrogation and being treated like a criminal. He said the federal police asked him many questions and wanted him to reveal his sources. They then took his fingerprints, personal details and photos before releasing him on $265 bail.

Asked for comment, an official in the Ethiopian prime minister's office, Getachew Redda, said he has no knowledge about journalists being interrogated for writing rumors about the former first lady. Read more from Voice of America »

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