A Reuters camera was arrested in Ethiopia after police raided his home and confiscated his computer, phone and other materials, Reuters reported Monday.
In a statement, the news agency condemned Thursday’s arrest and stated that Kumerra Gemechu, 38, had not received the reason for his arrest and had been detained in front of his wife and children.
The Reuters camera is said to have been involved in coverage of fighting between government troops and rebel forces in the northern Tigray region.
“Kumerra is part of a Reuters team that reports on Ethiopia in a fair, independent and impartial manner. Kumerra’s work demonstrates his professionalism and impartiality, and we are not aware of any basis for his arrest.” said Stephen Adler, editor-in-chief of Reuters.
“Journalists should be allowed to report news in the public interest without fear of being harassed or harmed, wherever they are. We will not rest until Kumerra is released,” Adler continued.
Although Kumerra was not given any reason for his arrest, a judge saw his case on Friday and allowed police two weeks to investigate him, while Kumerra was due to remain in custody for the time being. Authorities reportedly repressed journalists covering government fighting in Tigray in recent months, and a handful have been arrested.
Government spokesmen did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment. The Committee to Protect Journalists, which reported earlier this month that a record number of journalists were imprisoned around the world in 2020, called Kumerra’s arrest “the latest example of how the freedom of press is eroding rapidly under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed after a short “hope of reform” in a statement Monday to the news agency.