By TesfaNews,
THE European Human Rights Committee today opens a hearing on the illegal abduction and detention of Mr. Andargachew Tsgie, General Secretary of the Ethiopian opposition group known as Ginbot 7 Movement for Justice, Freedom and Democracy, as well as on the flagrant violation of Human Rights in the country by the Ethiopian government.
Mr. Andargachew Tsgie, a British national of Ethiopian origin, have been illegally abducted and extradited to Ethiopia by the Yemeni security forces in June.
The Ethiopian government argues that Mr. Andargatchew is a “terrorist” and has been sentenced to death in absentia under the controversial Anti-Terrorism Proclamation No. 652/2009.
The human rights situation in Ethiopia continues to deteriorate substantially.
As numerous annual U.S. State Department human rights reports have documented, Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism “law” is merely a convenient mechanism for “politically motivated trials and convictions of opposition figures, activists, journalists, and bloggers, as well as increased restrictions on print media.”
A group of United Nations Human Rights Experts last week collectively urged the government of Ethiopia to stop misusing anti-terrorism legislation to curb freedoms of expression and association in the country.
The experts also called on the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on situation of Human Rights in Ethiopia. They also urge the government to permit the visit by a group of Special Rapporteurs to the country.
UN Watch calls on #HumanRights Council to create special rapporteur on situation of human rights in #Ethiopia #UPR #HRC27
— Amy Bergquist (@alb68) September 19, 2014
