Olympian and Other Eritreans Freed After 18 Years Without Facing Charges, Family Members Report
Thirteen individuals detained for more than 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been released from a infamous military detention facility, as stated by family members of the prisoners.
Those released were a number of prominent figures, including elderly Olympic athlete and businessman Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been held at Mai Serwa prison, known for its severe environment and where many inmates are considered detained for political reasons.
Details of the Arrest
A source who was previously held in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were arrested in October 2007 following an attempted assassination on a senior state security official in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were initially detained, according to the source. A number have been freed over the years, but about 20 remained in custody.
Profile of an Olympian
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which achieved sovereignty from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong cycling culture and its riders have steadily gained global acclaim over the past decade.
List of Released
Those released alongside Zeragaber include prominent businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an technical professional, and Matthews, a geometrist.
Six senior police officers and an state security officer were also freed.
The Eritrean government has made no official comment concerning the releases of the detainees.
A significant number of the former detainees are sick and this could explain why they have been released at this time.
Relatives were prohibited to visit the prisoners during their detention, the relatives said.
Global Criticism and Prison Conditions
The UN and rights organizations have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including torture, enforced disappearances and the detention of many thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.
Mai Serwa prison, situated about 9km north-west of the capital city, Asmara, has grown over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, sources have indicated.
Background on Political Control
For the past thirty years, Eritrea has remained a single-party nation with no active constitutional framework. It is among the world's most militarised societies, with compulsory national service of unlimited duration.
There has been an absence of independent media since the shutdown of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001.
This was when the government arrested 15 politicians referred to as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they called for that the president put into effect the draft constitution and conduct democratic polls.
Per rights groups, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists allegedly having links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Aged 79, the president marked 32 years in power and has yet to participate in an election.