Eritrea and political prisoners

The European Parliament has pushed forward the agenda of the EU on its relationship with the government of Eritrea. On Wednesday the 14th of this month, a motion for a resolution "on Eritrea: the case of Dawit Isaak" was adopted by the European Parliament during its plenary session in Strasbourg. The resolution underlines the "deteriorating human rights situation in Eritrea and manifest lack of cooperation from the Eritrean authorities" and the need to sanction the Eritrea government further.
In this sense, the EP "calls on the Council to make more active use of the dialogue mechanisms associated with the EU development assistance programme for Eritrea, in order urgently to find solutions that will lead to the liberation of political prisoners and to improved democratic governance."

Yesterday, on the 10th anniversary of their detention, and following the adoption of the resolution, the High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the European Union made a declaration on political prisoners in Eritrea. Ms Ashton states that "the European Union urges the Government of the State of Eritrea to release these prisoners unconditionally, along with other persons detained for their political views".

Click here to read the full declaration by the High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the European Union on political prisoners in Eritrea on the 10th anniversary of their detention.

Click here to download the Resolution from the European Parliament on the case of Dawit Isaak and the need to sanctioning the Eritrea government further.

Click here to read the artilce from IDN.