Freedom for Dawit Isaak

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Mr Ban Ki-Moon
United Nations
Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378, New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162, Fax. 212-963-7055 April 26, 2009

The Honorable Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon!
Subject: Dawit Isaac hospitalised, denied visits


Dawit Isaak, a journalist,writer and playwright born 1964 in Eritrea came to Sweden as a refugee from the war in 1987 and became a Swedish citizen in 1992. When Eritrea gained independence, Dawit Isaak returned to his native country and became a part-owner of the country's first independent newspaper, Setit. Dawit Isaak was taken into custody on 23 september 2001. He has not been either charged formally or given a fair trial. Neither his family nor Swedish authorities nor international human rights organizations, International Journalist Association or International PEN have been allowed to visit him.
The Eritrean-Swedish journalist and author Dawit Isaac has been detained incommunicado without charge for over seven years. Recently, there has been new alarming information about Dawit Isaak. He is alleged to have been taken to a military hospital. He is kept isolated and his only human contact is with a doctor. No relatives are allowed to see him. His health has also deteriorated because of diabetes.

Mr Secretary General, we are urging you to secure the immediate and unconditional visit of Dawit Isaak and his release. We would appreciate your considered reply.


Copy: Mr Isaias Afewerki, President of Eritrea, Asmara, Eritrea

Copy: Mr Ali Abdu, Ministry of Information of the State of Eritrea
Shabait.com, P.O.BOX 872,Asmara, Eritrea
Tel:(291-1) 120478,(291-1) 201820, Fax :(291-1) 126747

1384 Signatures

  • Anisur R
    • Comments
    • free Dawit Isaak and Eritrea in the soonest
  • Vambola R
  • Babak E
    • Comments
    • On behalf of AIPP(in Exil), I urge Eritrean authorities to release Dawit Isaak immediately
  • agneta k
  • agneta p
  • Sigbrit N
    • Comments
    • Act now! Tomorrow it may be too late.
  • Fataneh N
  • BabakDust
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    • Freedom for Dawit Isaak
  • Cajsa M
  • Cat L
  • Philo I
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    • am shocked to learn that since 2001 Dawit has been in jail. The Horn of Africa needs voices out and we cannot waste so many lives in our silence. Thanks for letting us know PEN Sweden and for taking action.
  • Sven L
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    • Writers in Prison Committee, International PEN
  • Annika K
  • Gladwell Otieno, Nairobi K
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  • Erik N
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    • This I wanted to do for a long time
  • Zohreh Azar S
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  • Annemi S
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    • I fully agree with petition!
  • sassan n
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  • Ashraf A
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    • make him free
  • Faraj B
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    • Freedom for Dawit Isaak
  • Siv W
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    • Member of the Swedish Academy
  • Niklas L
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    • Kindly expedite
  • sadegh n
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    • for freedom of Dawi Esaak
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    • public
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    • I am a Chinese writer
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  • Patrick Kamotho G
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    • Freedom for Dawit Isaak
  • Khainga O
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    • A writer's patrioticism is measured, even when a government's is in doubt. Dawit, even from your dungeon your free spirit will fly and here, a comrade from neighbouring Kenya shares with your prison plight. We appeal to the authorities to release Dawit unconditionally. Governments should do their job, accept the role of writers in the community and stop persecuting them. Khainga O'Okwemba is a poet/writer/social commentator &Treasurer, International PEN Kenya Chapter.