Dawit Isaak, a journalist imprisoned in Eritrea without trial for 23 years, has received a Swedish human rights award for his dedication to freedom of expression.
Dawit, who holds dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, received the Edelstam Prize “for his… exceptional courage,” according to a statement from the award’s organisers.
He was one of the founders of Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper and was detained in 2001 after his newspaper published letters calling for political reforms.
Dawit Isaak was one of almost two dozen people detained in a government crackdown, including senior cabinet officials, members of parliament, and independent media.
Over the years, the Eritrean government has supplied no information regarding his whereabouts or health, and many of those imprisoned alongside him are assumed dead.
The Edelstam Prize, which recognises remarkable courage in protecting human rights, will be handed on November 19 in Stockholm.
Betlehem Isaak, Dawit’s daughter, will accept the prize on his behalf while he remains imprisoned in Eritrea.
His work with the Setit included criticism of the administration as well as calls for democratic reform and free expression, which led to his detention during a crackdown on dissent.
The Edelstam Foundation has called for Dawit Isaak’s release, pushing Eritrean authorities to reveal his whereabouts and grant him legal representation.
“Dawit Isaak is the longest detained journalist in the world. We are very concerned about his health and his whereabouts are unknown, he is not charged with a crime, and he has been denied access to his family, consular assistance, and the right to legal counsel – effectively, it is an enforced disappearance,” said Caroline Edelstam, the chair of the Edelstam Prize jury.
His “indefatigable courage stands as a testament to the principle of freedom of expression.”
The Edelstam Foundation also urged the international community to pressure Eritrea for Dawit Isaak’s release and to advocate for human rights reforms.
The Edelstam Prize honours individuals who show exceptional bravery in defending human rights, in memory of Swedish diplomat Harald Edelstam.
Eritrea is the only African country without privately owned media, having shut down its private press in 2001 under the pretext of “national security”.
Dawit, who fled to Sweden in 1987 during Eritrea’s war for independence, returned after the country gained independence in 1993 after becoming a Swedish citizen.
There have been no elections in Eritrea since its independence, and President Isaias Afwerki has held power for nearly 31 years.
With report from BBC
