In brief
In a momentous acknowledgment of his enduring commitment to press rights, Dawit Isaak has been chosen to receive the prestigious Edelstam Prize, despite being imprisoned in Eritrea for over two decades without a trial.
Over two decades ago, Dawit Isaak made history as a co-founder of Setit, the first independent newspaper in Eritrea, before his arrest in 2001 following the publication of letters advocating for democratic reforms. His detention coincided with a mass purge by the Eritrean government, which arrested about twenty-four individuals, comprising notable figures such as senior cabinet members and journalists. To date, the government has withheld any updates on Isaak's confinement, leaving many, including those detained alongside him, presumed deceased. The Edelstam Prize is awarded in recognition of extraordinary courage in the defense of human rights and is set to be conferred on November 19 in Stockholm. Accepting the award on behalf of her father will be Betlehem Isaak, as Dawit continues to serve his sentence. The Edelstam Foundation describes Dawit's resilience as "indefatigable courage" and has called upon the Eritrean authorities for transparency regarding his health and whereabouts, urging for his release and granting of legal representation. Caroline Edelstam, chair of the Edelstam Prize jury, emphasized the severity of his situation, highlighting that he is the longest-serving imprisoned journalist globally, facing a legal black hole without any charges against him. This status, she argues, marks a significant violation of his rights and amounts to enforced disappearance. The foundation also urged intensified international pressure on the Eritrean regime to facilitate Dawit's liberation and implement urgent human rights reforms, underscoring that Eritrea remains the sole nation in Africa lacking privately-owned media, having banned it under the guise of "national security" in 2001. Dawit Isaak's saga began when he sought refuge in Sweden during Eritrea's war for independence in 1987, returning after the country gained freedom in 1993, having acquired Swedish citizenship. Since Eritrea's independence, the nation has remained under the tight grip of President Isaias Afwerki, who has steered the country without elections for nearly thirty-one years.
