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Swedish journalists found guilty in Ethiopia | Swedish journalists found guilty in Ethiopia |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An Ethiopian court has convicted two Swedish journalists of supporting terrorism. | An Ethiopian court has convicted two Swedish journalists of supporting terrorism. |
Ethiopian troops captured Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye six months ago during a clash with rebels in the East African state's Somali region. | Ethiopian troops captured Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye six months ago during a clash with rebels in the East African state's Somali region. |
The court ruled it was "very unlikely" that they had entered Ethiopia illegally only to gather news. | |
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said they were innocent and should be freed. | |
Judge Shemsu Sirgaga said the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebel group - which Ethiopia regards as a a terrorist organisation - had arranged the men's journey from London to Ethiopia, with stop-overs in Kenya and Somalia, the AFP news agency reports. | |
They entered Ethiopia illegally under the pretext of investigating the impact of potential oil discoveries, he said. | |
'Expressionless' | 'Expressionless' |
"Instead they accompanied the ONLF into the country and were caught alongside the rebels. This contradicts their claims," the judge said. | |
"Guilty as charged, period, unanimous vote." | |
Both reporters appeared expressionless at the verdict and it was not clear whether they understood the judge since they had no translator, AFP reports. | Both reporters appeared expressionless at the verdict and it was not clear whether they understood the judge since they had no translator, AFP reports. |
Mr Reinfledt said Sweden viewed the convictions in a very serious light and was already making high-level contact with the Ethiopian government to secure their release. | |
"Our position is and continues to be that they were in the country on a journalistic assignment. They must be released as soon as possible in order to | |
be reunited with their families in Sweden," Mr Reinfeldt said. | |
During their trial, the journalists admitted entering Ethiopia illegally with the ONLF but denied terrorism charges. | |
The prosecution has asked for Persson and Schibbyethem to be sentenced to 18 years and six months in prison. | |
The freelance journalists were on an assignment for Filter magazine when they were arrested, the Reuters news agency reports. | |
Its Swedish-based editor-in-chief Mattias Goransson said they were "political prisoners", it reports. | |
"When the judge read out the grounds it sounded positive, he had virtually nothing against them," Mr Goransson is quoted as saying. | |
"Everything he said was speaking for an acquittal, and then he found them guilty anyway. This indicates they are political prisoners and nothing else." | |
Human rights group Amnesty International said they had been prosecuted for doing "legitimate work". | |
"The overly broad provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation allow the authorities to criminalize the exercise of freedom of expression," said Claire Beston, the group's Ethiopia researcher, the AP news agency reports. | |
Since the 1970s, the ONLF has been fighting for the rights of Somali-speaking Ethiopians, who they say have been marginalised by the government in Addis Ababa. | Since the 1970s, the ONLF has been fighting for the rights of Somali-speaking Ethiopians, who they say have been marginalised by the government in Addis Ababa. |
One ONLF faction signed a peace deal with the government last year, but another splinter group has continued to fight the army. | One ONLF faction signed a peace deal with the government last year, but another splinter group has continued to fight the army. |
Human rights groups have repeatedly accused the government of widespread atrocities in the Somali-speaking region, where journalists need permission to travel. | Human rights groups have repeatedly accused the government of widespread atrocities in the Somali-speaking region, where journalists need permission to travel. |