Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Addis Standard
Published on 2024-03-30 07:47:05
Christian Tadele, Yohannes Buayalew, and Kasa Teshager, along with 50 other individuals, faced terrorism charges in a closed hearing at the Federal High Court’s Lideta branch. Despite their initial court date being scheduled for April 5th, 14 of the 52 individuals were presented in court before that date, catching their families by surprise.
Family members of the defendants revealed that neither Christian Tadele nor his lawyers were informed about the rescheduled hearing. The family member of Christian Tadele mentioned that they found out about the court appearance around 2:00 PM after delivering his meal earlier that day. They also claimed that the defendants had not received the formal charges against them or consulted with their legal counsel before the proceedings.
Christian Tadele, who had been a Member of Parliament since 2021, had his immunity revoked on March 14, 2024, seven months after his arrest in August 2023. Similarly, Yohannes Buayalew’s family member stated that they were denied entry to the courtroom during the closed session hearing.
State media reports indicated that Christian Tadele, Yohannes Buayalew, and 50 others were charged with terrorism offenses by the Ministry of Justice. The charges alleged that the defendants sought to impose their political aims through force and aimed to establish the Amhara Fano Unity Council since 2022.
The defendants were accused of planning to reclaim what they perceived as Amhara lands through military means and wanted Ethiopia to be governed exclusively by Amhara ideals. They were also implicated in organizing, procuring arms, commanding, and coordinating logistics for a terrorist group, as well as launching attacks on security forces and civilians.
Lawyer Solomon Gezahegn, representing Christian Tadele, Yohannes Buayalew, and others, expressed concerns about not being able to properly defend his clients due to the lack of prior consultation. The court granted their request to postpone the session to April 5, the previously scheduled date.
During the proceedings, the public prosecutor requested to transfer the defendants from their current prison facilities due to overcrowding, but the defense objected, and the court declined the request. The defendants also raised complaints about human rights issues, including being detained in poor conditions and limited access to their families and legal counsel.
Overall, the defendants were arrested under the state of emergency in the Amhara region for allegedly participating in illegal activities and providing support to armed groups. The judge acknowledged the defendants’ grievances and ordered corrective measures to be taken.
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