Pope Francis gives his full support for Dawit
VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis gives his full support to the international campaign for the release of Dawit Isaak, the Swedish-Eritrean journalist who is imprisoned without trial in Eritrea since 2001. ”I send my blessings and greetings
VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis gives his full support to the international campaign for the release of Dawit Isaak, the Swedish-Eritrean journalist who is imprisoned without trial in Eritrea since 2001.
”I send my blessings and greetings to him and his family,” the Pope said in an exclusive interview with Expressen.
Dawit Isaak is a Swedish-Eritrean journalist and writer held in Eritrean prison since 2001 without trial. The Eritrean regime calls him a traitor, while Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and has called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Expressen and other leading Swedish media have repeatedly called upon the Eritrean authorities to free Dawit Isaak and devote considerable space to his case.
“I hope with all my heart that the Dawit case will get a solution. I send my blessings and greetings to him and his family,” Pope Francis told Expressen on Monday.
“I hope that all will be clarified”
The Pontiff is the most recent of numerous international statesmen and celebrities who have expressed their support for the imprisoned journalist.
“I hope that all will be clarified. This is a person who is suffering very much in this situation,” the Pope said.
Thomas Mattson, editor-in-chief of Expressen, expresses his appreciation of the Pope’s remarks in a column. He stresses the importance of the fact that Dawit Isaak’s plight now has got the attention of the Pope as well as of other senior figures on the world scene.
“Recently four Catholic bishops in Eritrea wrote an open letter criticizing conditions in the dictatorship. And now the Pope gives support to Dawit Isaak in an exclusive interview with Expressen. Maybe, maybe the military junta is somewhat easing its control over the long-suffering citizens of Eritrea?” Thomas Mattsson writes in a column.
Other celebrities supports the campaign
The Expressen editor-in-chief points out that Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and many other celebrities support Expressen’s campaign for the release of Dawit Isaak.
“The EU demands his release, the African Union has raised the issue … There are more of us than the Pope who pray for Dawit Isaak to be reunified with his wife Sofia, his three children and his relatives in Goteborg,” Thomas Mattsson writes.
Dawit Isaak came to Sweden in 1987 and became a Swedish citizen in 1992. When Eritrea gained independence he returned to his native country and started working for the country’s first independent newspaper.
Isaak arrested in 2001
On 23 September 2001 Isaak was arrested in his home in Asmara in Eritrea. Another 21 prominent journalists and politicians were arrested at the same time – for demanding democratic reforms in Eritrea.
There have been reports that Isaak was subject to torture. The Eritrean government has not allowed anyone to visit him.
Dawit Isaak has been awarded several international prizes, among them The Golden Pen of Freedom Award of the World Association of Newspapers in 2011.
Source: Expressen
Truly Truly i say to you July 14, 2014
As a man of God, Pop Francis if sympathises with the injustice fully imprisoned victims it may right and correct and Godly, but by naming to one individual person Dawit Isak to shown or give a special concern or solidarity absolutely not Godly. There are a lot more innocent Eritrean citizens not because of political motivation, but for they have love the good teachings of Jesus Christ and for the conviction they have love Gospel in prison some already persecuted, some still languishing without any trial and justice. Relatively with Dawit Isak in sight of God these innocent believers should to deserve more special attention if it needed. These innocent belivers as they heard Gospel and they preached to others Gospel, how Lord by sending his angels in great miracle as released Holy Apostle Petros and others, they are still praying and awaiting someone to release them. This Gospel truth alone should more to motivate Pop Francis more to do. This is what pleases God, Lord Jesus Christ , not like a politician for special citizen, riches or in what ever reason for become a popular person when a religious person gives special attention. If a Pope adopt such altitude like Politicians (like this world people without any supportance of the the holly ghost judging, believe me anyone can be finally easily deceived and misguided him. All bible readers may know, How Jakob by deceived his father Isaac, how he taken away the blessing that belongs to his older brother, Esau. Read if you like the story (Genesis, 27; 30-40.) If any Pope according the will of God does nor react, similarly any criminal person could cheat and take a blessing from him just to embarrass or for other good reason, may to shown a Pope as is simply like any human being not himself is God. Only God, Jesus Christ is uncheat-able and who knows everything and everybody!
stif July 15, 2014
pointless comment. The Pope raised Dawit Issaks case because Expressen brought it up specifically. Wishing him good and praying for him and his family is a humanly thing to do. e
Mr commentor must reread the whole statement and information to avoid missjudgement.
R