elalem Workagegnehu, co-blogger of De Birhan Blog and whose works had appeared on various Diaspora website, has been sentenced to five years and four months by the Ethiopian regime controlled court in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia today.
Zelalem was finishing his Masters Degree in Public Administration at the Addis Abeba University, in July 2014 when he was detained together with nine other opposition politicians, netizens, and activists.
The Court had acquitted five of the defendants in August 2015 and two more of Zelalem’s co-defendants on April 15, 2016 when it found Zelalem and two other co-defendants of Zelalem guilty of “supporting terror in any way.”
The movement he is accused of supporting is Known as Ginbot 7 (Arebgenoch Ginbot 7 Movement), a pro-democracy movement founded by Professor Berhanu Nega, an Ethiopian economist, who lectured in Bucknell University, U.S.A. The Ethiopian government labelled his movement as well as few other Ethiopian opposition groups as “Terrorist Groups” in 2010.
Like several Ethiopian activists, journalists and politicians, Zelalem was initially accused being a member and local leader of Ginbot 7 although the charges were later changed. Zelalem in his defense statements maintained that he has never been a member of Ginbot 7 and does not believe Ginbot 7 is a terror organisation, he does believe in bringing social change only through nonviolent means.
Zelalem Workagegnehu’s Trial Timeline
July 8, 2014 – Zelalem Workagegnehu along with seven of his friends and one of his brothers were detained by the Ethiopian Federal Police and Securities. Few months later his older brother and four of his friends were later released after going through long interrogations and torture.
One of his relatives, Eyob, who faced the most torture and ordeal, had agreed with the prosecutors to testify against Zelalem and his colleagues and thus was subsequently released.
October 31, 2014 - After four months of investigation, torture and interrogation 10 people were officially charged. The 10 are charged under the file of Zelalem Workagenehu were:
1. Zelalem Workagenhu – a postgraduate student of Addis Abeba University and a writer
2. Habtamu Ayalew – Public Relations Head of the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJ)
3. Daniel Shibeshi – Organisational Affairs Head of UDJ
4. Abraha Desta – Central Committee member of Arena Party and lecturer at Mekele University
5. Yeshiwas Assfea – Council member of Blue (Semayawi Party)
6. Yonatan Wolde – charged with applying for a digital security course.
7. Abraham Solomon – linked with Zelalem in the Charge.
8. Solomon Girma
9. Bahiru Degu – charged with applying for a digital security course.
10. Tesfaye Teferi
The two main morals of the charges are one “working together with terrorist organisations” and “membership in Ginbot 7 and participation in criminal activities”. The first defendant Zelalem has been charged of being a leader of Ginbot 7 and recruiting members”. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendants have been charged of using legally registered opposition party as a cover to pursue the aims of Ginbot 7 and also using social media to contact Fasil Yenealem, whom the charge referred to as a member of the Movement and others.
Nov. 20, 2014 – They were all denied bail. The Court ordered the prosecutor to complete its evidences on the detainees and submit them on 27 November, 2014.
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