Your Excellency:
I am writing to you as the Chair of the Committee on Human Rights of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) in the United States to request your assistance with the case of Dr. Merera Gudina, a detained Ethiopian political scientist and prominent opposition leader, who is currently standing trial for what appears to be his peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and association. The Committee on Human Rights is joined in this request by xx other distinguished members of the National Academies, who asked that their names be added to this letter. As you can see from the number of signatories, Dr. Merera’s situation is of great concern to many Academy members.
Dr. Merera was taken into custody on November 30, 2016 at the airport in Addis Ababa upon his return from Brussels, where he had testified before the European Parliament (EP) about human rights abuses committed under the state of emergency in Ethiopia. Other individuals who attended the special hearing on Ethiopia at the EP’s invitation included Ethiopian athlete Feyisa Lilesa and Berhanu Nega, leader of the opposition Patriotic Ginbot 7, which we understand your government considers a terrorist organization.
In late February 2017, multiple charges were brought against Dr. Merera and four co-defendants. We understand that Dr. Merera was charged with attempting to disrupt the constitutional order, disseminating false information, and violating the State of Emergency law for allegedly meeting with Dr. Berhanu while in Brussels. We further understand that his request for bail was denied by the Federal High Court. The next hearing in Dr. Merera’s case will be held on July 31, 2017.
Dr. Merera is well-known and respected globally for his opposition to violence and for his efforts to promote and protect human rights in Ethiopia. It is our understanding that he is among dozens of activists and members of his opposition party, the legally registered Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), who have been taken into custody in connection with their peaceful criticism of government policies. These activities constitute the exercise of rights that are guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Ethiopia is a party. Members of the international community have since called for Dr. Merera’s immediate release. Notably, the European Parliament adopted a resolution, on May 18, 2017, urging your government to refrain from using anti-terrorism legislation to suppress legitimate peaceful protest and dissent, to lift restrictions on free expression and, specifically, to drop all charges against Dr. Merera.
Insomuch as it appears that Dr. Merera has been jailed due to his peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and association, we respectfully urge you to use your good offices to ensure his immediate and unconditional release from prison. In the interim, we ask that you ensure that his treatment is in accordance with the U.N. Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), including that he be allowed regular access to his legal counsel and family.
We thank you for your attention, Your Excellency, to this important matter.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Chalfie, Ph.D.
(2008 Nobel Laureate, Chemistry)