Blogger Seyoum Teshome arrested in Ethiopia amid protests

In another assault on free expression, Ethiopia- a country known as the world’s worst jailer of journalists Ethiopian police has detained a notable blogger Seyoum Teshome few days after deadly protests  in Oromia and Amhara. Teshome has been arrested because of his outright criticism of governmental way of handling the protests. He is an university lecturer and has been regularly quoted by the foreign media about his quotes on anti-government protests. He was detained in his own house at Woliso town of Oromia region on October 1. Few days back Teshome had reportedly told the media about his plans to undertake doctoral studies at Addis Ababa University and also starting his own website about blogging under the name Ethiothinkthank. He also mentioned about the anti-government protests in his blogs and Facebook page. The arrest has invited widespread criticism especially as it has coincided with the governmental actions to halt all anti-government wave.

Ethiopia is the third worst jailer of journalists in Africa and many journalists and writers are serving jail terms for their criticism about the government. The incident has taken place only days after anti-government protesters were killed in a stampede after a governmental forces fired tear gas and bullets to disperse the crowds during the celebrations of the annual Ireecha festival of Oromo people. The arrest has once again sparked fresh round of protests against the blatant disregard of the government for human rights and other wider freedoms. Human Rights Watch have called for a fair investigation and has urged the government to put an end to use of force to dispel peaceful protestors.