Swedish reporters sentenced to 11 years in Ethiopia

A COURT in Ethiopia yesterday sentenced two Swedish journalists to 11 years in prison on charges of supporting terrorism after the two illegally entered the country with an ethnic Somali rebel group in a case that has been criticised by media rights groups.

Judge Shemsu Sirgaga ruled that the two freelance journalists — Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye — will serve “rigorous imprisonment” following their convictions last week.

Ethiopian troops had captured Persson and Schibbye six months ago during a clash with rebels in eastern Ethiopia’s restive Somali region, a no-go area for reporters. Ethiopia considers the rebel group a terrorist organisation, and it is very difficult for journalists to gain access to the region. Human rights groups claim that is so that abuses there are not exposed.

The judge has accused the Ogaden National Liberation Front — or ONLF — of

In Sweden, Foreign Ministry spokesman Anders Jorle called the sentencing expected but regrettable. He said Sweden has been in contact with the Ethiopian government over the court case “at a high level”.

Their Swedish lawyer, Thomas Olsson, could not be immediately reached for comment but told national broadcaster SVT that the sentence was a disappointment, but that he and his clients had not yet decided if they would appeal.

“We will try to adjust to the new situation and help them as much as possible,” he said, noting that an appeal can take up to two years and that the alternative would be for them to try to get pardoned.

“The latter means that they have to confess to these crimes and apologise, which of course is a hard thing to do when you regard yourself innocent.

“That’s why an appeal is natural, but it’s a tough decision. That’s what Martin and Johan are up against in the coming 15 days,” Olsson said.

Persson and Schibbye are both freelance contributors to the Sweden-based photojournalism agency Kontinent. Schibbye is also a writer.

Persson and Schibbye have acknowledged that they entered Ethiopia illegally.

Jonas Nordling, chairman of the Swedish Union of Journalists, called Tuesday’s sentencing “a setback for journalism, and it’s a personal tragedy for Martin and Johan and their families. We will do all we can to support them.”

Amnesty International said it believes the two Swedes are “prisoners of conscience, prosecuted because of their legitimate work.”