Africa/Ethiopia/Law & Order/Protests/Terrorism Charges
BREAKING NEWS: ETHIOPIA COURT FOUND FORMER SENIOR OPPOSITION FIGURE YONATAN TESFAYE GUILTY OF TERRORISM CHARGES
addisstandard / May 16, 2017/ 4.8k
Mahlet Fasil
Addis Abeba, May 16, 2017 – The Federal High court fourth criminal bench has today passed a guilty verdict against Yonatan Tesfaye, former opposition Blue Party public relations head.
Yonatan was first arrested in December 2015, barely a month after the first wave of a year-long #Oromoprotests erupted. He was held incommunicado during the pre-trial weeks and was subsequently charged in May 2016 under Ethiopia’s infamous anti-terrorism proclamation (ATP).
Yonatan has been defending the charges against him since then. The charges of ‘encouragement of terrorism’, stipulated under article six of the ATP, were largely drawn from his Facebook activism during the protests. According to article six of the ATP, “Whosoever publishes or causes the publication of a statement that is likely to be understood by some or all of the members of the public to whom it is published as a direct or indirect encouragement or other inducements to them to the commission or preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism…” is subject to terrorism charges.
He had presented several defense witnesses, including prominent opposition party leaders from the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), Bekele Gerba and Dr. Merera Gudina, who are in jail at the time of their testimony fighting charges of terrorism and multiple criminal charges respectively, and journalistEskendir Nega, who is serving 18 years in prison for terrorism-related charges.
In addition, Yonatan’s close friend Ephrem Tayachew, his father Tesfaye Regassa, and his sister Gedamnesh Tesfaye as well as academicians from the Addis Abeba University (AAU), including the outspoken philosopher Dr. Dagnachew Assefa and Dr. Yaqob Hailemariam have all appeared in court to testify in defense of Yonatan’s innocence.
However, this morning the court in its verdict overruled all defense testimonials by upholding prosecutors’ accusations. Yonatan’s sentencing is adjourned to May 25.
Yonatan could face from ten to 20 years rigorous prison term in a federal prison; however, the court ruled that he can appeal for a minimum sentence.
***According to new information Addis Standard received, after the sentencing is handed over, Yonatan’s defense team, led by his lawyer Shibiru Belete, is planning to object to the verdict and appeal for the charges to be reduced to criminal charges.
Cover Photo: Yonatan Tesfaye
Photo credit: His Facebook
Related
At last, federal high court begins hearing of defense witness testimonials on Yonatan Tesfaye’s terrorism chargesJanuary 5, 2017In "Africa"
Prison police brings Bekele Gerba et.al to court barefoot, wearing only shorts and t-shirtsJune 3, 2016In "Africa"
News - Ethiopia court sentences university students to various terms in jailNovember 18, 2016In "Addis Abeba Integrated Master Plan"
PREVIOUS POST
NEWS: HIGH PROFILE TERRORISM CHARGE AGAINST SENIOR OFC OFFICIALS, OTHERS KEEPS DRAGGING AS COURT ONCE AGAIN ADJOURNED KEY VERDICT
NEXT POST
THIS IS THE MOST RECENT STORY.
LATEST FROM THE GLOBAL MEDIA
Awash Insurance Company S.C. (AIC) is one of the first few pioneer private insurance companies in EthiopiaVisit
Awash Insurance Company S.C. (AIC) is one of the first few pioneer private insurance companies in EthiopiaVisit
Elizabeth Grant in 1958 in London, England it was most unusual for women to run companies.Get into your Skin
Leopard Beach Resort - Special offers this season January - April 2016 at Dianis ' Finest resortVisit
EDITOR’S PICK
#StateOfEmergency/Africa/Ethiopia/Protests
NEWS: ETHIOPIAN PARLIAMENT EXTENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY BY FOUR MORE MONTHS
addisstandard / March 30, 2017
Africa/Ethiopia/Law & Order/Protests/Terrorism Charges
Africa/Ethiopia/Law & Order/Protests
Africa/Art Review/Ethiopia/Ethiopian Muslims/Human Rights
BOOK REVIEW: ‘PHARAOH: THE SYMBOL OF DICTATORS’: BY AHMEDIN JEBEL
Africa/Commentary/Ethiopia/Human Rights/Protests
COMMENTARY: THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER’S VISIT AND ITS FALLOUT
Africa/Ethiopia/Human Rights/Op/Ed/Protests
OP-ED: FEAR OF INVESTIGATION: WHAT DOES ETHIOPIA’S GOVERNMENT HAVE TO HIDE?
addisstandard / April 21, 2017
#StateOfEmergency/Africa/Ethiopia/Human Rights/Protests
addisstandard / April 18, 2017
#StateOfEmergency/Africa/Ethiopia/Press Freedom/Protests
addisstandard / April 12, 2017
#StateOfEmergency/Africa/Analysis/Ethiopia/Oromia Regional State/Somali Regional State
addisstandard / April 10, 2017
Africa/Ethiopia/Freedom Of The Press/ZoneNine
#StateOfEmergency/Africa/Ethiopia/Protests
NEWS: ETHIOPIAN PARLIAMENT EXTENDS STATE OF EMERGENCY BY FOUR MORE MONTHS
addisstandard / March 30, 2017
Africa/Ethiopia/Law & Order/Protests/Terrorism Charges
FOLLOW US
22.2k
Followers
19.4k
Fans
ABOUT ADDIS STANDARD
Addis Standard is a monthly English private magazine published and distributed by JAKENN Publishing P.L.C. It is registered with the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia under license number 1552/2003.
MAILING LIST
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER.
CONTACT
Address: Leul Taz Building 3rd Floor Off No. 302 | Opposite CMC Compound | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Phone: +251 118 951 323 / 116 609 329
Mobile: +251 911 860 307 / 922 346 654
E-mail: info@addisstandard.com / addisstandard@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment