Ethiopia: Incommunicado detention/ fear of torture or ill-treatment

Ethiopia: Incommunicado detention/ fear of torture or ill-treatment

Index Number: AFR 25/003/2006
Date Published: 3 February 2006
Categories: Ethiopia, Africa

Forty-two people have been arrested during Ethiopian Orthodox Church celebrations in the capital, Addis Ababa. They are reportedly being held incommunicado and are at risk of torture or ill-treatment. On 19 January, thousands of members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the principal faith in Ethiopia, were singing and processing through central Addis Ababa as part of the Timket (Epiphany) church festival. At one point when police halted the procession and reportedly opened fire. Two people were reportedly killed and several wounded as a result. One of the wounded, Lealem Bogale was said to have died later in hospital.