In brief
Dawit Isaak, a journalist imprisoned in Eritrea since 2001, has been awarded the Edelstam Prize for his extraordinary courage in advocating for human rights. His daughter will accept the award on his behalf, highlighting the ongoing struggle for press freedom in Eritrea.
Journalist Dawit Isaak, who has been unjustly imprisoned in Eritrea without trial for over two decades, has recently been honored with the esteemed Edelstam Prize for his relentless dedication to freedom of expression. The award, presented by the Edelstam Foundation, recognizes his "exceptional courage" amidst ongoing oppression.A dual citizen of Eritrea and Sweden, Dawit Isaak co-founded Setit, Eritrea's first independent newspaper. His commitment to democratic reforms and criticism of the government led to his arrest in a sweeping crackdown by the regime in 2001, which saw him and several prominent figures, including government officials, detained without due process. Sadly, the Eritrean government has remained tight-lipped about his situation, and many fellow prisoners from that time are believed to have died.The Edelstam Prize, set to be awarded on November 19 in Stockholm, will be accepted by Isaak's daughter, Betlehem, as he continues to endure imprisonment. The foundation has called for his immediate release, insisting that the Eritrean authorities disclose Isaak's location and grant him access to legal representation.Caroline Edelstam, chair of the Edelstam Prize jury, expressed grave concerns for Isaak’s health and called his situation an "enforced disappearance,” emphasizing that he has been denied any rights typically afforded to a detainee. The foundation's statement underlines Dawit Isaak’s resilience as a powerful symbol of the struggle for freedom of expression worldwide.Highlighting Eritrea's dismal media landscape, the Edelstam Foundation reminds the world that this nation still lacks privately owned media, having silenced independent voices since 2001, all under the guise of "national security." Dawit, who sought refuge in Sweden during the Eritrean struggle for independence, returned after the country won its freedom in 1993, only to be persecuted for his journalistic endeavors.This awards ceremony not only aims to spotlight Dawit's plight but also advocates for urgent human rights reforms within Eritrea, a country that has not held elections in over 30 years, with President Isaias Afwerki maintaining his grip on power since independence.
