By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A journalist detained in an Eritrean prison for 23 years without trial has been honoured with a Swedish human rights prize for his commitment to freedom of expression.
Dawit Isaak was given the Edelstam Prize “for his exceptional courage”, the foundation organising the award said in a statement.
Dawit, who holds dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship was one of the founders of Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper.
He was detained in 2001 after his paper published letters demanding democratic reforms.
Dawit was among a group of over 20 persons which comprised senior cabinet ministers, members of parliament and independent journalists, arrested at that time.
Over the years, the Eritrean government has failed to provide information on his whereabouts or health, and many who were jailed alongside him are assumed to have died.
The Edelstam Prize, awarded for exceptional courage in defending human rights, will be presented on 19 November in Stockholm.
Dawit’s daughter, Betlehem Isaak, will receive the prize on his behalf as he is yet to be freed from Eritrean prison.
He was arrested in connection with his calls for democratic reform and free expression in his independent newspaper, actions the government found offensive.
The Edelstam Foundation has called for Dawit’s release, urging the Eritrean authorities to disclose his location and allow him legal representation.
“Dawit Isaak is the longest detained journalist in the world. We are very concerned about his health and his whereabouts are unknown, he is not charged with a crime, and he has been denied access to his family, consular assistance, and the right to legal counsel – effectively, it is an enforced disappearance,” said Caroline Edelstam, the chair of the Edelstam Prize jury.
The foundation says “indefatigable courage stands as a testament to the principle of freedom of expression.”
The Edelstam Foundation also urged the international community to pressure Eritrea for Dawit’s release and to advocate for human rights reforms.
Eritrea is the only African country without privately owned media, having shut down its private press in 2001 “national security”.
Dawit, who fled to Sweden in 1987 during Eritrea’s war for independence, returned after the country gained independence in 1993 after becoming a Swedish citizen.
