Jan 20, 2011 a proclamation on anti terrorism proclamation no. This paper analyses ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its. Whereas, the right of the people to live in peace, freedom and security has to be protected, at all times, from the threat of terrorism. The report examines how the law, enacted in 2009, is a tool of repression, designed and used by the ethiopian government to silence its critics. Pdf some points on the ethiopian antiterrorism law from. The proclamation also extends aspects of the antiterrorism proclamation and the criminal code to electronic communications. By sasahulh yalew, lecturer in law tigrai online, october 14, 20. Ethiopia recognized the right to freedom of expression. The provisions of the ethiopian criminal code and criminal procedure code may be applied in terrorism related cases. Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia inter. The proclamation was adopted on 7 july 2009 and came into force upon its publication in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia official gazette 15th year no. Ethiopian federal high court convicted two swedish journalists on. For years, the ethiopian government has been accused of using its antiterrorism law to crack down on internal political dissent.
Based on earlier drafts of the law previously made available to amnesty international, acts of terrorism are vaguely defined and could encompass the legitimate expression of political dissent. Whereas, money laundering and the financing of terrorism as it not only threaten security, but also compromise the stability, transparency, soundness and efficiency of the financial system. This diktat approved on a 28691 vote of the rubberstamp parliament is so arbitrary and. Articles 5 and 63, ethiopian human rights commission establishment proclamation, federal negarit gazeta, proclamation no. Laws in ethiopia designed to prosecute terrorism are increasingly being used to silence political dissidents, opposition party members, journalists and others in civil society. Whereas, terrorism is a danger to the peace, security and development of the country and a serious threat to the peace and security of the world at. Data privacy law and practice in ethiopia international. The provisions of the ethiopian criminal code and criminal procedure code may be applied in terrorismrelated cases. Aug 30, 20 ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression. Definitions in this proclamation, unless the context otherwise requires. Ethiopias ruling party says changes would not be made to the draconian antiterrorism proclamation atp, let alone scrapping the law altogether. New antiterrorism proclamation jeopardizes freedom.
The following article is by caelainn barr of the bureau of investigative journalism. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to freedom of expression. While legitimate antiterrorism laws have been enacted in a number of countries, these critics of. Ethiopia uses antiterror laws to silence critical journalists. Ethiopian government and opposition start talks on amending.
You taught me in dire dawa advance dipoloma batch when you were a freelance law teacher for you were a bank worker. Dec 11, 2017 etenesh abera addis abeba, december 112017 the ethiopian federal supreme court has today reduced the jail terms of 20 defendants who were accused and sentenced to various years in jail after having been charged of terrorism related offenses. Anti terrorism proclamation 6522009 under article 20 declared that the court before which an arrested person is presented in accordance with article 19 of the proclamation, may give an order to remand the suspect for investigation or trial. Ethiopias highly controversial antiterrorism law, proclamation no. Ethiopia to amend antiterror laws in political thaw. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law human.
End use of counter terrorism law to persecute dissenters and opposition members 2 june 2016, 16. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation march 9, 2009 summary this paper analyses ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights standards. We recently condemned the application of the antiterrorism proclamation. Ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and the right to.
This paper analyses ethiopia s draft antiterrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights. The 20 edition of the human rights and democracy report of the government of the united kingdom uk severely criticized the government of ethiopia for its application of its anti terrorism proclamation and the charities and societies proclamation, which hampers the activity of the opposition camp of the country. Addis abeba, december 112017 the ethiopian federal supreme court has today reduced the jail terms of 20 defendants who were accused and sentenced to various years in jail after having been charged of terrorism related offenses on january 03, 2017, the federal high court 19the criminal bench has sentenced all but one of the defendants under the file name of the first. May 30, 2018 ethiopian government and opposition start talks on amending antiterrorism law. The european union delegation in ethiopia welcomed the dropping of legal charges and andargachews release. A tool to stifle dissent, by the oakland institute and the environmental defender law center, authored by lawyers including representatives from leading international law firms, unravels the 2009 proclamation. Ahbashization has generated significant conflict between the ethiopian government and muslim communities. The law defines acts of terrorism as including damage to property and disruption to any public service, for which an individual could be. This proclamation may be cited as the anti terrorism proclamation no. Sep 29, 2011 the following article is by caelainn barr of the bureau of investigative journalism. Andargachews ginbot 7 is among five groups the government had.
The full text of the anti terrorism proclamation no. The council of ministers in its 68th regular session held on may 18, 2019, approved the antiterrorism draft law developed to prevent and control terrorism. Ethiopian government and opposition start talks on amending antiterrorism law. Ethiopia end use of counterterrorism law to persecute. Terrorism by antiterrorism law lately, meles zenawi, the dictator in ethiopia, has been rounding up dissidents, journalists, opposition party political leaders and members under a diktat known as antiterrorism proclamation no. Data privacy law and practice in ethiopia kinfe micheal yilma.
Unhcr is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. In practice, however, ethiopian judges have leniently interpreted these requirements, giving them little or no consideration. Amnesty international, human rights watch, committee to protect journalists cpj, all have openly criticized ethiopia for adopting the anti terrorism proclamation. This paper analyses ethiopias draft anti terrorism proclamation the draft proclamation and assesses to what extent the proposed law on its face conforms to international human rights. This proclamation may be cited as the antiterrorism proclamation no. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation on. Ethiopian antiterrorism law archives ethiopian legal brief. In the course of deliberations over the law, some members of the ethiopian parliament, as well as human rights organizations, journalists. The ethiopian government used its sweeping antiterrorism legislation to arrest dozens of people, many of them journalists and opposition figures charged under provisions of the 2009 anti terrorism. The antiterrorism proclamation of 2009 includes an overbroad and vague definition of terrorist acts and a. A comparative analysis henok abebe gebeyehu abstract the antiterrorism proclamation of ethiopia has a farreaching effect on human rights, such as freedom of expression. Antiterrorism proclamation, federal negarit gazeta. Assessing controversial issues of the ethiopian anti.
The conclusions these critics have reached are both inescapable and correct. An analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism law human rights. Obama has expressed keen interest in learning from ethiopias counterterrorism and counterinsurgency strategies. An examination of ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation. Cite as, national legislative bodies national authorities, ethiopia. Ethiopian political parties position on the anti terrorism law addis ababa government spokesmen defend the law while opposition party leaders scoff at. On january 03, 2017, the federal high court 19the criminal.
I am pleased to be publishing it here, though the contents are anything but pleasing. Time to repeal antiterrorism law in ethiopia global issues. Ethiopian prime minister abiy ahmed has called for cancellation not just suspension of debt payments by developing countries to enable them redirect financial resources toward dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. Oakland, ca with human rights as the special focus of the 26th summit of the african union that gets underway today in ethiopia, the oakland institute and the environmental defender law center edlc released a new report, ethiopias antiterrorism law. The criminal code of the federal democratic republic of ethiopia 2004, art. The identity of those suspected for terrorism and arrested based on the law also gave this institutions a reason to take ethiopia a regular destination for their condemnations.
Some points on the ethiopian antiterrorism law from human rights perspective. Duration of crime investigation quandary under ethiopian. Proclamation on anti terrorism, published in the federal negarit gazeta of the federal republic of ethiopia on 28 august 2009 proclamation against international standards on freedom of expression. The provisions of this law that impact freedom of expression.
The right to privacy in the age of surveillance to counter. Analysis of ethiopias draft antiterrorism proclamation. Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom of. Ethiopia s highly controversial anti terrorism law, proclamation no. Antiterrorism proclamation 6522009 under article 20 declared that the court before which an arrested person is presented in accordance with article 19 of the proclamation, may give an order to remand the suspect for investigation or trial. End use of counterterrorism law to persecute dissenters and opposition members. Council of ministers approves antiterrorism law embassy. The new law was drafted by the federal attorney general office of ethiopia to protect the peace and security of the people and the government from the threats of terrorism. Ethiopian legal information portal find laws, cases, legal. Amnesty international, human rights watch, committee to protect journalists cpj, all have openly criticized ethiopia for adopting the antiterrorism proclamation. The ethiopian government must end its escalating crackdown on human rights defenders, independent media, peaceful protesters as well as members and leaders of the political opposition through the antiterrorism proclamation atp says a group of civil society organisations csos.
It confirms that the law is designed and used by the ethiopian government as a tool of. Ethiopian political parties position on the anti terrorism. Comment on ethiopian antiterrorism proclamation article 19, london, 2010 law201003ethiopia 1 about the article 19 law programme the article 19 law programme advocates for the development of progressive standards on freedom of expression and access to information at the international level, and their. Now, bloggers and political activists worry freedom of expression. The antiterrorism law makes the criminal code applicable only to the extent that the code is consistent with the antiterrorism law provisions antiterrorism proclamation, 36, supra. This article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and information. The proclamation also extends aspects of the anti terrorism proclamation and the criminal code to electronic communications. Article 19 has extensive experience of working on freedom of expression and information issues in ethiopia. Andargachews ginbot 7 is among five groups the government had blacklisted under the antiterrorism legislation. Pdf this article analyses the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of expression and information. Ever since its promulgation in august 2009, ethiopias anti terrorism proclamation has been a subject of criticisms from western activists. In july 2011, the government publicly dedicated the ahbash sect as the officially recognized traditional ethiopian islam 2011 proclamation.
May 31, 2016 for years, the ethiopian government has been accused of using its anti terrorism law to crack down on internal political dissent. The proclamation has been used by the regime to charge and imprison opposition party members, journalists and dissidents who criticise the regime or exercise their basic freedom of expression. Now, bloggers and political activists worry freedom of. Ethiopia supreme court reduces jail terms of ethiopian. A tool to stifle dissent, authored by lawyers from leading international law firms, provides an indepth and damning analysis of ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation. Antiterrorism legislation further restricts ethiopian press. Even though the proclamation was intended to provide adequate legal.
A prominent ethiopian political opposition member sits in prison on charges of terrorism. Pdf the impact of ethiopias antiterrorism law on freedom. The new law which was drafted by the federal attorney general office of ethiopia to protect the peace and security of the people and the government from the threats of terrorism was developed to fill the gaps in the previous antiterrorism proclamation no. Ethiopian legal information portal find laws, cases. I am pleased to be publishing it here, though the contents are anything but. File pedestrians walk past the federal high court building in addis ababa, ethiopia, nov. The paper assesses ethiopias antiterrorism proclamation and argues that, not only is the definition of terrorism problematic, but also the implementation of the law continues from the weak ends of the law, and makes the ethiopian situation rife for the violation of the right of thought, opinion and expression.
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