By Henok Semaegzer Fente
06 August 2008
Washington, D.C. (VOA) – In Ethiopia, the trial of a controversial pop star is raising questions about the independence of the judiciary and of the press. The government has arrested a journalist covering the court hearings and a defense attorney. Both men are expected to appear in court today (Wednesday).
Teddy Afro
Ethiopia’s rising pop and reggae singer Teddy Afro has been in jail since April. He was charged with a hit and run road accident and remains in jail after being denied bail. Teddy has pleaded non-guilty, and his attorney argues that prosecutors have not presented enough evidence to detain his client.
But as of Monday, the defense attorney, as well as a journalist covering the trial joined the pop singer behind bars.
Mesfin Negash, the editor of a weekly newspaper in the Ethiopian capital could be sentenced to up to six months in prison, if found guilty of contempt of court. Facing the same charges and also in police custody is Teddy Afro’s defense attorney Million Assefa, who was quoted in an article published by the paper. Listen to the Report at VOA News.
Related: Jailed Singer Teddy Afro: ‘A Political Symbol’ (LA Times)
CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists) has been covering this story pretty extensively, for more info on Ethiopian press issues and commentary on the region check out our blog in the link above.
keep up the good work!