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Dawit Isaak ‘may be dead’

Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak, who has been imprisoned in Eritrea since 2001, has been moved from prison and may be dead, according to Swedish journalist Lars Adaktusson. Speaking on his radio programme Radio 1, Adaktusson cited

Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak, who has been imprisoned in Eritrea since 2001, has been moved from prison and may be dead, according to Swedish journalist Lars Adaktusson.

Speaking on his radio programme Radio 1, Adaktusson cited credible sources from Eritrea’s opposition movement as indicating that Isaak is no longer in the Eira Eiro prison because he is dead.

However, the information hasn’t been officially confirmed.

“We have no information to confirm either that he has been moved or that he is dead,” Anna Backlund at the Swedish foreign ministry’s informaion department told The Local.

The foreign ministry will now make a thorough investigation whether there is any information from within the ministry organisation indicating that there is any basis to the rumours about Isaak’s death.

Mehari Abraham, an Eritrean-exile commentator and journalist at TV-Zete in Stockholm is one who believes that Isaak is no longer alive.

“It’s very credible information but it’s extremely hard to get it confirmed,” he told the TT news agency.

While the information hasn’t been officially confirmed, the sources claiming that Isaak is no long in the prison have been right about ten previous deaths.

However, Leif Öbrink, chair of the Free Dawit Isaak campaign, was highly critical of the spreading of the information about Isaak’s supposed death, calling it “speculation”.

“This has been circulating for several weeks, this information. No one believes it. I think it’s totally wrong to go out with it,” he told TT, questioning the motives of Adaktusson and Abraham.

“What does he want? To discredit the regime? One has to bear such things in mind,” Öbrink said of Abraham.

“This is sensationalism from Adaktusson’s side.”

Isaak’s daughter Bethlehem also cast doubt on reports that her father was dead.

“We don’t believe this information,” she told the Expressen newspaper.

Arhe Hamednace, a Social Democrat MP of Eritrean decent, is concerned the reports may be accurate.

He explained on the radio programme that he received reports about Isaak about two months ago.

“There were some people who called me. One high-placed person that works in an organistation with international contacts called me and said that ‘we have information, we’ve heard that Dawit is no longer alive’,” said Hamednaca.

He later contacted sources in his own network in Eritrea but failed to get the information confirmed.

“But we know how this regime acts. No one who is a high-ranking politician or government critic has come out alove from this prison,” he said on Adaktusson’s programme.

Thomas Mattsson, editor of the Expressen newspaper, which has been at the centre of the movement to draw attention to Isaak’s case and win his freedom, said the report that the imprisoned journalist may be dead was “terrible news”.

“Terrible if it’s true. Nearly as terrible if it’s not true – Dawit Isaak has a wife and three children and it’s with them that our thoughts go now. I really hope this is a misunderstanding, a mistake.”

Source: The Local

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36 COMMENTS
  • Selamawi October 27, 2011

    Hope HUMANITY and DIGNITY accompanied by PEACE and JUSTICE will return to Eritrea one day (may that day be soon!).

    My thoughts are with the prisoners and their loved ones – Dawit’s family and the many many others whose names have been on the public domain as well as those who have not been mentioned so far. May Eritreans return to their senses and abide by laws, rules, and fear of God.
    Eternal life to those killed unlawfully.

  • sol October 27, 2011

    I am so sad by this news and the regime should also notify the families about his death officially because this family waited for long and dissociated itself from free Dawit campaign just to appease the regime hoping he will be free but this government does not have heart.It is too much to bear and it will affect all tge members because they have to mourn their beloved father,husband ,son and brother.They should get a closing for Dawit at least he is resting in peace without pain. I think it is high time we should pursue the case to international criminal court because this is intentional killing by tormenting not only the prisoners but also the families in an eternal pain of suffering of their loved ones.This is not only bad news for the families of Dawit but also his children will be suffered deeply without knowing the fate of their dad.

  • Shawel October 27, 2011

    If this sad news is true? I am so sorry to hear this sad news!!
    God help the family to deal with the tragic lose of this great brother and hero Dawit.

  • Almaz October 27, 2011

    Life is so cheap in Eritrea. What do you expect from a regime who condemns to death even the 30-years war heroes and heroine. If it is true Dawit’s blood will not be in vain, like all other martyrs, they are fertilizers for liberty, justice and democracy. In a fair world these people deserve noble prizes not death, death should be directed to the evil group who are sitting in power by the rule of the jungle. We will never forget the sacrifices paid to bring the cruel regime to an end.

  • Free Dawit October 27, 2011

    It is heart breaking if the story is true. I hope it is not. But I just want to say one simple thing. For those who take delight when others are arrested, tortured and killed. Remember the last minutes of Gaddaffi. How they shoved a knife up his arse. How he was begging. How he was humilated, his wig ripped off.slapped sily while the frenzied mob cried Misrata. All criminals.meet their end some humilated and mocked until they breath the last air never to exchane with a fresh bit of air but to expire to eternity. The same I hope.befals the criminal regime in Eritrea for shedding so much innocent blood. They have destroyed a Nation that once was tenecious, honest and hardworking. I do hope.he.is still alive. I also wish the image of Gaddaffi getting sodomized by a knife becomes a constant nightmare to the criminals who are destroying Eritrea.

  • Beles October 27, 2011

    Kaluot keman moytom alewu.

  • Bus.Zone October 27, 2011

    i would be surprise if any one survive in Shabia aka (HEGDF) jail , they are criminal they do not care more or less

  • Mike October 27, 2011

    Rest in peace my brother!

  • Disappointed October 27, 2011

    If this news true, dawit is murdered and HIGDEF and Isayas are the criminals. For no good reason the public has known, people are thrown away in jail to die horrifying death. Why is isayas unable to bring the accused to the rule of law if he has a genuine case against them like he says……here is another evidence of his criminal and brutal nature! You bleed, die, wound for your country and yet they take away your right to work, move around, pray, educate, talk, assemble, instead they make you die terrible death. Lord have mercy!

  • sol October 28, 2011

    Heartless,opportunistic Higdef-you will reap what u sow. I know what u care id gor your stone house in Asmara-it will be sold and the money will be given to ICC ad its blood money-even Ghadafi gone leaving his billions.Deyweghe meselewa abukra tisheyene.Tjere is time for every thing

    • sol October 28, 2011

      The above comment is to Beles-naye behaki beles- you know beles will give fruit only during rainy season that means it is only reliable when the time is good and it contains thiny and hidden thorns which are irritating and painful.Once the rain goes it will die, u guys come to Eritrea when the time is good and u will run away to your adoptive country when something happens- but the spirit if those who pay the price will chase u for the rest of yourlife and Issias will be buried in the Indian ocean so that u cannot worship him or built a shrine-no one will know what happen to him he destroys the cemetery of Heros and heroine Eritreans

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