Dawit Isaak, the world’s longest-held journalist in Eritrea, has been awarded the Edelstam Prize for his unwavering commitment to freedom of expression despite being imprisoned for 23 years without trial. His daughter will accept the award as the international community is urged to pressure Eritrea for his release and advocate for human rights reforms.
In a haunting testament to the power of perseverance, Dawit Isaak, a journalist languishing in an Eritrean prison for 23 long years, has been awarded the prestigious Edelstam Prize. The honor highlights his unwavering commitment to freedom of expression amidst a regime that has silenced voices of dissent since the early 2000s. Isaak, a dual citizen of Eritrea and Sweden, was one of the pioneering forces behind Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper. His fearless calls for democratic reform led to his arrest during a brutal government crackdown on critical voices in 2001, leaving him lost in the shadows of injustice without a trial or charge. The Edelstam Foundation praised Isaak for his “exceptional courage” as they strive to bring attention to his plight. With no news from the Eritrean authorities regarding his condition or location, many fellow prisoners from his time remain unaccounted for, presumed dead. The Prize ceremony is set to take place on November 19 in Stockholm, where his daughter, Betlehem Isaak, will accept the award on behalf of her father. The foundation has called upon Eritrea to not only release Isaak but to also provide transparency regarding his health and legal rights, which have been continually denied. “Dawit Isaak is the longest detained journalist in the world. His enforced disappearance raises serious concerns for our humanity,” articulated Caroline Edelstam, chair of the jury. The international community is urged to rally for his release, aligning their voices against the oppressive silence enforced by the Eritrean government.
Dawit Isaak’s story is interwoven with the fabric of Eritrea’s tumultuous history. After gaining independence in 1993, the nation became a fortress of government control suppressing press freedom. Eritrea’s shutdown of private media outlets in 2001 was a pivotal moment that sentenced many journalists, including Isaak, to obscurity and injustice. Isaak’s determination to advocate for democratic rights and free expression placed him in the crosshairs of a regime that has silenced dissenters without mercy for over 20 years. With no elections and President Isaias Afwerki holding power for almost a third of a century, the nation continues to be one of the most oppressive in the world for journalists. The Edelstam Prize, named after a Swedish diplomat known for his humanitarian ideals, seeks to honor Isaak’s tenacity against such a backdrop.
Dawit Isaak’s recognition with the Edelstam Prize not only sheds light on his courageous struggle for freedom of expression but also serves as a rallying cry for the international community to advocate for human rights in Eritrea. His imprisonment symbolizes years of oppression, and as his daughter prepares to accept the award in his stead, the world is reminded that true courage often flickers quietly in the depths of censorship. As calls for his release echo across borders, they carry a collective hope that the darkness will eventually yield to the light of justice.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
