Prisoner of Conscience Needs Urgent Treatment

Ethiopian prisoner of conscience Bekele Gerba has been denied access to specialised medical treatment that he urgently needs. He has high blood pressure which is affecting his sight, leaving his left eye operating at 25% capacity. He was sentenced to a year in prison after being held in contempt of court twice.

Ethiopian prisoner of conscience Bekele Gerba has been denied access to specialised medical treatment that he urgently needs. He has high blood pressure which is affecting his sight, leaving his left eye operating at 25% capacity. He was sentenced to a year in prison after being held in contempt of court twice. 1) TAKE ACTION Write a letter, send an email, call, fax or tweet:

• Immediately grant Bekele Gerba permission to seek necessary, specialised medical treatment, such that his blood pressure is brought back into a safe range and his eyes are treated;
• Release Bekele Gerba immediately and unconditionally, as he is a prisoner of conscience detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression; and
• Refrain from using ‘contempt of court’ to silence and prevent Bekele Gerba and others from exercising their human rights.

Contact these two officials by 23 March, 2018:

Federal Attorney General Getachew Ambaye Jomo Kenyata St. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia P.O. Box 1370 Email: [email protected] Salutation: Your Excellency

Ambassador Kassa Tekleberha Embassy of Ethiopia 3506 International Drive, NW, Washington DC 20008 T: 202 364 1200 Email: [email protected] Salutation: Dear Ambassador

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