The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is calling on Ethiopian authorities to release two journalists accused of "undermining the constitution", a charge that could carry the death penalty. Dessu Dulla and Bikila Amenu, journalists with the Oromia News Network (ONN) online television station, were arrested on 18 November 2021, CPJ said in a statement received Tuesday, International Press Freedom Day. "After months of arbitrary detention, the prosecution of Ethiopian journalists Dessu Dulla and Bikila Amenu on subversion charges, which could potentially carry the death penalty, is outrageous," CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal said in a statement. "The authorities had months to establish credible charges against the journalists and their failure to do so simply shows that the process is retaliatory in nature," she added, saying that "Mr. Dessu and Mr. Bikila should be released immediately and unconditionally. According to the CPJ, the two journalists are due to appear in court on Tuesday 3 May, after several postponements.

Source: Ethiopian News May 03, 2022 16:43 UTC