A journalist held without trial in Eritrean prison for 23 years has won a Swedish human rights award for his commitment to freedom of expression.
Dawit Isaak, who has dual Eritrean-Swedish nationality, was awarded the Edelstamprijs “for his… exceptional courage”, the foundation behind the award said in a statement.
Dawit, who has dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, was one of the founders of Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper.
He was arrested in 2001 after his newspaper published letters demanding democratic reforms.
Dawit was part of a group of about 20 individuals, including senior ministers, parliamentarians and independent journalists, who were arrested in a government purge.
Over the years, the Eritrean government has provided no information about his whereabouts or health, and many imprisoned alongside him are presumed dead.
The Edelstam Prize, awarded for exceptional courage in defending human rights, will be presented on November 19 in Stockholm.
Dawit’s daughter, Bethlehem Isaak, will receive the award on his behalf while he remains imprisoned in Eritrea.
His work with the Setit included criticism of the government and calls for democratic reforms and free speech, actions that led to his arrest in a crackdown on dissent.
The Edelstam Foundation has called for Dawit’s release and urged Eritrean authorities to reveal 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 has not been charged with a crime and he has been denied access to his family, consular assistance and the right of entry. legal advisor – in fact it is an enforced disappearance,” said Caroline Edelstam, chair of the Edelstam Prize jury.
His “tireless courage testifies to the principle of freedom of expression.”
The Edelstam Foundation also urged the international community to pressure Eritrea for Dawit’s release and advocate for human rights reforms.
The Edelstam Prize honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage in defending human rights, in memory of Swedish diplomat Harald Edelstam.
Eritrea is the only African country without private media; it closed its private press in 2001 under the pretext of “national security”.
Dawit, who fled to Sweden during Eritrea’s war of independence in 1987, returned after the country became independent in 1993 after becoming a Swedish citizen.
There have been no elections in Eritrea since independence, and President Isaias Afwerki has been in power for almost 31 years.
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