/ / ETHIOPIA: ARTIST’S DISAPPERANCE MUST BE INVESTIGATED

ETHIOPIA: ARTIST’S DISAPPERANCE MUST BE INVESTIGATED

UA: 85.26

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Ethiopian human rights defender, photographer, and videographer, Filmon Gebrehiwot Hagos (33), has not been seen since August 10, 2025. On the same day, his family filed a complaint at the local police station and later at the General Sub-City Police Station, but over one year on, and the authorities have yet to publicly announce any investigations initiated or underway into his disappearance.

The Ethiopian authorities must urgently carry out an effective, independent, thorough, and transparent investigation into the enforced disappearance of Filmon Gebrehiwot Hagos and immediately reveal his fate and whereabouts.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: March 1, 2027

Here is how you can take action:

Send a letter to the Ethiopian authorities
Send an email to the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington DC using our email-writing tool
Post on social media
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Scroll down to Step 1 and Step 2 to access the full Urgent Action appeal and sample letter, and U.S.P.S. mailing address (if available).

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Step 1

READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION

Enter your email address and zip code to get the sample letter to send to government officials.

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You can now write a letter in your own words or download the sample below as a guide.

Remember to send your letter by March 1, 2027.

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Sample Letter

Dear Debretsion Gebremichael,

I am concerned about the enforced disappearance of human rights defender Filmon Gebrehiwot Hagos who appears to have been targeted for his human rights work.

Filmon Gebrehiwot Hagos is a photographer, videographer, and owner of Filari Film Production (Filari) in Tigray, Ethiopia’s capital. On August 10, 2025, he disappeared from Adihawusi, Mekelle, Tigray on his way home from work traveling on a bajaja taxi. His wife called him when he did not arrive home and his phone rang several times but was ultimately unreachable. There have been no confirmed sightings of him since. His fate and whereabouts remain unknown, raising serious concerns that he has been subjected to enforced disappearance.

No official explanation has been provided by the authorities about who may be responsible for his disappearance or where Filmon Gebrehiwot Hagos may be held if in custody. However, there are concerns that he may have been targeted in connection with his work which involved documenting the impact of the Tigray conflict between 2020-2022 including human rights violations.

These enforced disappearances constitute a clear infringement upon their entitlement to freedom of expression and press freedom, as a safeguarded by both regional and international human rights conventions, of which Ethiopia is a state party to.

I call on you to take all necessary steps to ensure an effective, independent, thorough, and transparent investigation is immediately carried out into the enforced disappearance of Filmon Gebrehiwot Hagos. If he is in custody of the Tigrayan authorities, I urge you to ensure that his whereabouts are immediately disclosed and that he is released immediately and unconditionally.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

Sample Social Post

To President Debretsion Gebremichael, Where is Filmon Gebrehiwot Hagos? The photographer and filmmaker disappeared on August 10, 2025, and his fate remains unknown. Ensure a prompt, independent investigation, disclose his whereabouts if in custody, and release him immediately if detained

Send a message to Debretsion Gebremichael on Facebook

Step 2

Send your message

Mail your letter to the government officials listed below. You can also email, fax, call, or post about them on social media.

Send your letter to:

Tigray Regional President

Debretsion Gebremichael

gebremichael.debretsion

and

CC: Ethiopian Embassy in the United States

Ambassador Binalf Andualem Ashenef

Send a copy of your letter to the address below

3506 International Drive, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

[email protected]

When writing your letter, don’t forget to be factual, brief, and show respect. See more letter writing tips and emails, or organize and host a letter writing party.

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