Ethiopian journalist Muhiyadin Mohamed Abdullahi sentenced to 2 years in prison
Nairobi, May 3, 2024— The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ethiopian authorities not to contest the appeal of journalist Muhiyadin Mohamed Abdullahi’s conviction on hate speech and false news charges.
On Thursday, May 2, Muhiyadin—who has been detained since his February 13 arrest—was sentenced to two years in prison by the Fafen Zone High Court in Jigjiga, the capital of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, in connection with commentary he published on his Facebook page, Muxiyediin Show, according to a person with knowledge of the proceedings who spoke to CPJ on condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns. Muhiyadin immediately appealed the conviction, according to the source.
“Muhiyadin Mohamed Abdullahi has already been imprisoned for nearly three months and his sentencing to two years in prison is a painful reminder of the ongoing repression of media in Ethiopia,” said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator, Muthoki Mumo. “Prosecutors should not contest the appeal of Muhiyadin’s conviction, and authorities should ensure that journalists do not face prison time for their critical reporting and commentary.”
Authorities alleged that Muhiyadin was inciting the public in a now-deleted Facebook post in which the journalist said that he was “angry and sad” about road closures in Jigjiga during a holiday celebration by “nonbelievers” who are “cursed in the Quran.”
Muhiyadin’s case has been characterized by several due process concerns. Following his arrest by unidentified security personnel, Muhiyadin was detained incommunicado for six days before he was transferred to a local police station, and he did not receive a court hearing until February 20, as CPJ previously documented. Article 19 of Ethiopia’s constitution requires arrested persons to be produced in court within 48 hours of arrest. On March 28, a panel of three judges granted Muhiyadin bail of 30,000 Ethiopian birr (US$523), which the journalist posted. However, the police refused to release him, according to a person with knowledge of the proceedings.
Ethiopia was the second-worst jailer of journalists in sub-Saharan Africa according to CPJ’s 2023 prison census, an annual report that documents the number of journalists behind bars as of December 1 each year.
CPJ sent a message to Abdikadir Rashid Duale, head of the Somali Regional State’s Communication Bureau, via a messaging app for comment on Muhiyadin’s sentence but did not receive an immediate reply.