Tell us Where Yassin Juma is - Duale Demands of Ethiopia

Garissa MP Aden Duale.
Garissa MP Aden Duale.
File

Garissa MP Aden Duale, on Wednesday, August 12, demanded the national government to issue a statement on the whereabouts of Kenyan journalist Yassin Juma.

Speaking in the National Assembly, the legislator further accused the Ethiopian government of violating human rights by disregarding international judicial laws.

"To date, Ethiopian police are still holding Mr Juma in illegal detention contrary to court orders and in complete digression from international accords on judicial processes," he stated.

File image of independent Kenyan journalist and former NTV reporter Yassin Juma
File image of independent Kenyan journalist and former NTV reporter Yassin Juma
File

The former National Assembly Majority Leader tasked the chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations to address 3 key things:

  1. What specific measures are being pursued by the Government of Kenya to secure the release of Yassin Juma as well as to guarantee his absolute freedom.
  2. What immediate assistance of facilitation is the government currently according the journalist.
  3. What measures does the government have in place to safeguard Kenyans from similar treatment abroad

Juma has spent the last 40 days in detention, following his arrest on July 3, while he was while covering protests that erupted following the killing of Oromo singer Hachalu Hundessa.

The singer, known for his activism, was gunned down in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, sparking fierce protests.

Juma's lawyer, Lawyer Tuli Bayisa, is in a state of bewilderment as, despite the courts ordering the journalist's release on bail, on August 5, he is yet to gain his freedom.

The renowned scribe was charged with inciting ethnic violence and plotting to kill senior Ethiopian officials.

He was arrested alongside two Ethiopian journalists who are also facing the same charges.

Portrait of Hachalu Hundessa.
Ethiopian singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist Hachalu Hundessa.
File
  • . . . .