European parliament to discuss the case of Dawit Isaak 10 years into his imprisonment

The MEPs for a Democratic Eritrea today discuss the case for freeing Dawit Isaak after ten years of imprisonment, before a plenary debate held on the subject tomorrow.

The Swedish-Eritrean journalist and author has been kept imprisoned without charges since September 2001, when, among other high-ranking officials, he was arrested following public criticism against president Isayas Afeworki.

According to the accounts of former prison guards, Mr Isaak is held under unspeakable conditions without access to health services, providing serious concerns for his wellbeing.

Further statements of guards indicate that half of the officials and journalists arrested in 2001 are dead.

The European Parliament demands the immediate release of Mr Isaak and other political prisoners also calling on the African Union for cooperation.

Furthermore, MEPs also call for Eritrean authorities to lift ban on the country’s independent press and insist on an inter-Eritrean national conference to be held in order to create a proper democracy in Eritrea.

The Parliament also envisages sanctions on relevant Eritrean authorities, including visa restriction for President Afewerki on travelling to the EU as well as a complete ban on development aid to the country.

The resolution on the case of Mr Isaak will be discussed between 15:00 and 16:00 in the plenary in Strasbourg.