European Federation of Journalists

Free Dawit Isaak


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a mock prison cell installed in the Brussels Fine Art Centre (BOZAR) for supporters to share their solidarity with the Dawit isaak and campaign for his freedom

Imagine you are being locked away in a prison for 14 years without trial for crimes you have not committed? On Sunday 15 November, you can experience the injustice facing the Swedish-Eritrean journalist, Dawit Isaak, who has been detailed Eritrea for 14 years now. To share the solidarity with Dawit, you will be put in a  four square metres of pitch dark and stifled surroundings symbolize Dawit Isaak’s prison cell for 15 minutes.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) will join a campaign launched by the Belgian branch of the world association of writers, PEN, to highlight the struggle of Dawit for freedom and gather international support to free Dawit. The event will be held in Bozer (Centre for Fine Art) in Brussels starting from 15 November to 22 November (see details below).

On 15 November, the International Day of the Imprisoned Writer, the Belgian P.E.N. representative will organise a sit-in around Isaak’s prison cell. Between 2pm and 5pm their members will read aloud. A number of writers in exile residing in Belgium will also be taking part in this event.With: Sulaiman Addonia (ER), Adnan Adil (IQ), Alhadi Agabeldour (SD), Nisma Alaklouk (PS), Ubah Cristina Ali Farah (IT-SO), Zuher Aljobory (IQ), Huguette de Broqueville (BE), Saskia De Coster (BE), Fikry El Azzouzi (BE), Rose-Marie François (BE), Kenan Görgün (BE), Maarten Inghels (BE), Betlehem Isaak (SE), Hazim Kamaledin (IQ), Boris Korkmazov (RU), Caroline Lamarche (BE), Abdullah Maksour (SY), Majid Matrood (IQ), MohaNad Jacob (IQ), Hoshang Ossi, Mariane Sluszny (BE), Jeroen Theunissen (BE), Annelies Verbeke (BE).

Dawit Isaak fled to Sweden in the late 1980s, to escape the aggression in his native country. He was granted Swedish citizenship. After the Eritrean War of Independence he returned to his fatherland and supported its reconstruction, amongst others through the weekly called Setit. It was a plea for journalistic independence and freedom of speech, an internationally recognised human right and precondition for a democratic society. While Eritrea began to show more dictatorial characteristics, Isaak kept fighting for democracy and freedom of press. In 2001 he was imprisoned without any form of indictment, charge or trial.

On 2 June, the EFJ at its Annual Meeting in Montenegro declared its support for Dawit. Bethlehem Isaak, daughter of Isaak, sent a message via the Swedish delegate, Jonas Nordling, to the delegates and thanked for their support for Dawit.

The message reads:

“Thank you for continuing to give Dawit Isaak a voice. You have the world’s most important job by giving people a voice. Thank you for your support. It keeps my Dad alive.”

On this occassion, the EFJ has also written to the Head of the Delegation of European Union to the State of Eritrea, Ambassador Christian R. Manahl and members of the European Parliament at the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, asking their assistance to help free Dawit.

 

 


DATES

Sunday 15 November 2015, 13:00 (→ 18:00)
Tuesday 17 November 2015, 10:00 (→ 18:00) 
Wednesday 18 November 2015, 10:00 (→ 18:00) 
Thursday 19 November 2015, 10:00 (→ 18:00) 
Friday 20 November 2015, 10:00 (→ 18:00)
Saturday 21 November 2015, 10:00 (→ 18:00) 
Sunday 22 November 2015, 10:00 (→ 18:00) 

LOCATION

BOZAR/Centre for Fine Arts

 

You can also join various online campaigns to suppport Dawit:

FreeDawit
FreeDawit on Facebook
FreeDawit | BOZAR Brussels

(photo: freedawit.com)