Declaration of the European Council on political prisoners in Eritrea

Today (18 September 2009), the European Council issued a declaration on political prisoners in Eritrea. In this document the European Union expresses its deep concern about the Government of the State of Eritrea severely violating its human rights obligations under domestic and international law. In particular, the European Union urges the Government of the State of Eritrea to unconditionally release all political prisoners. EEPA hopes that this declaration is a step for the EU to insist on political dialogue between the EU and Eritrea in which the severe situation of political prisoners is addressed.

On 18 September 2001 a group of eleven prominent members of parliament and of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice, the only political party in Eritrea, was arrested. Five days later, on 23 September 2001, ten independent journalists were also arrested. Since then, other individuals have been arrested and detained incommunicado, with their rights to a due process suspended. For a few years now, the European Council has been issuing declarations on political prisoners in Eritrea on the anniversary of 18 September. For more information on the declarations, see the links below.

• 18/09/2009 - Declaration on behalf of the European Union on political prisoners in Eritrea (original version)
• 22/09/2008 - Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on political prisoners in Eritrea
• 20/09/2007 - Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on political prisoners in Eritrea
• 18/09/2006 - Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on political prisoners in Eritrea