'My dad has been in jail for 23 years. His crime? Being a journalist' – BBC Africa

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'My dad has been in jail for 23 years. His crime? Being a journalist' – BBC Africa


Betlehem was only eight when she last saw her father, Dawit Isaak, a founder of Eritrea’s first independent newspaper. But Eritrea is one of the world’s worst places to be a journalist. It has no independent media, hasn’t held elections since its independence and many journalists are behind bars. Isaak is one of them – after 23 years in jail…

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@Sarahj962

Eritrea is like the Bermuda Triangle under Issayas. So many have vanished. Imagine wondering whether your loved one is alive or dead. Sad

@genetadmik6805

It is so sad story. May God help you to see your father face to face.

@calm1047

This is what we are headed for in America!

@samuelhagos9798

The looser always searching for blaming the only nation without IMF or World bank loan and NON selling their nation interest for CIA hegemony .The world fed up by your game so ….GAME OVER ! ERITREA IS NOT FOR SALE.

@abel8835

Erteria president is a devil 😂

@Myen0912

Free all Eritrean 🙏

@brukkifle9491

Prayers for him and all those Who are imprisoned without good reason 😢

@Gigi-nn9yk

Yes my dear expose this old dictator as much as possible. This is his nature to do.

@heruy8274

Eritrean people have much graver problem than the existence of the communist dictatorship ruling them. And it's not a problem of political differences between democracy supporters and regime surrugates but one of national identity. Eritrea is nothing more than a colonial name coined and built by Italy. It did not exist before Italians occupied Amasien and baptized it Eritrea, their first-born colony in Africa. The fact that our people continue to fiercely identify with the Greek name Eritrea – to which we foolishly in our state of ignorance attach all kind of sentimental and emotive significance linked to the liberation struggle as a expression of our heart feelt patriotism, is nothing more than a expression of our mental and spiritual subjugation as a colonized people that have not undergone a thorough decolonization process as a society. In this respect the situation of our state of affairs does not differ from those African countries that celebrate independence from European imperialism and having their own government while speaking the languages, practicing the religions, and migrating to the countries of their former masters. Eritrea is a fake country with a fake identity because it has no primordial basis. That's why resistance against the oppressive regime has not gained momentum for more than three decades. It's foolish to speak of Eritrean identity as if it has any worth because it's a identity of a people who never had any agency in determining their own destiny as men. This is where the Italian-manufactured Eritrea differ from the historic country of Amasien which at the very least can boast of having it's own system of governance and legal tradition of customary laws that stood against the test of time. Contrary to Eritrean propaganda our history is not a prolonged tale of being colonized by successive colonial powers. It's not a coincidence that it is this theme that is always highlighted in official national narrative. The object of such a teaching is to strip the people, who carry with them centuries of traditions and heritage, of their agency so that the communist regime of IA and his henchmen can be sold to the ignorant masses as their sole embodiment of freedom and sovereignty. We are not Eritreans. We are Amasenays. It is not the propaganda and false narrative the unelected and tyrannical regime shoves down our throat as truth but this primordial essence that defines us a body of people and it is as such we must resist it. The youth of Eritrea, at home and abroard, must be lead and educated about their true origin and identity as Amasenays. This is the first step we must take in the long journey we must trekk in order to restore not only our freedoms and rights but our humanity and dignity as men which the despotic regime has trampled for to long.

Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk ሸራብ

@MewaelKidus

Isayas:The most savage and barbaric dictator who is responsible for the deaths of Millions of Tigrigna speaking people. A cruel man with adverse childhood traumas. He was mistreated and abused for being Tigreans by the so called Eritreans. He hated both Tigreans and Eritreans for different reasons. One for the identity that caused him to be abused and the other for abusing him. And He planned his revenge on both of them for the emotional scar that left him. He worked hard for the demise of the two people. Eventually, He succeed. Over the course of 50 years, He annihilated countless Eritreans and Tigreans. He still never quenches his thirst for killing them. A case study should be conducted on him to know what he really is and horrible things he done.

@mussieg5807

Thanks BBC Africa and Betelhem for exposing the crimes committed by the Eritrean Regime for the past 30 years. Dawit Isaak and tens of thousands of Eritreans are and have been jailed without any reason and without trial. Please keep up the good work in exposing such crimes against humanity all over the world.

@Carmel-t1w

THAT'S INSANE! AND HUMAN RIGHTS CRIME! Article 10 of the Human Rights Act: Freedom of expression
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers

@NatashaLawes-xg3uk

Poor guy. I hope he gets Justice soon

@Yaasalaam-l6k

its unfortunate to be Eritrea with most vicious dictatorial regime fellow Eritrea scattered all over the world

@Valhalla-or8mx

Where's all the human rights agitators and Amnesty International …?

@adiamaetsch3431

Care about Snowden before you care of others.

@bluehibiscus502

Wow!

@adiamaetsch3431

Leave Eritrea alone & eat your burgers in Washington DC.

Just sickening these wannabe africans.

@light8742

You can call him a journalist, but as a citizen of the country, he has to know how and what this small nation sacrificed to become a nation against all odds. May be he was arrested for treason. In the name of democracy and freedom of speech, even in the Western world, you can't cross the line. If the line is crossed, then consequence.

@sunraye1

He is probably an agame…alot of them Imprisoned for treason pretend like their innocent eritreans lol.

@WhereisThelove-fx5gp

Eritrea is a North Korea of Africa but the poorest version

@davedave5217

Enough of the boring fake news no one will be fooled by you

@peaceloveunity3079

I heard that when he move to Eritrea he got very expensive car as a gift from CIA 😮🧐 the Eritrean 🇪🇷 government they don't just imprison him with out any reason ☝️

@Mana5Eyob

We are still love Dawit. One day God will do Miracles our heroes. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

@mengisteabbelay639

Free Iran from Islamic terrorists
Free Gaza from Islamic terrorists organisation Hamas
Free Libanon from Islamic terrorists Hizbollah
Free USA America from Muslim religion

@SabaGebreamlak

BBC FAKE NEWS

@gelau777

He is dead in jail😢😢😢

@maheletethio1154

I miss my grandpa I don’t know where he is😢