Ethiopian Prison Abuses Need Probe, Group Tells New Premier

  • Human Rights Watch cites testimony from dozens of ex-prisoners
  • Nation’s new prime minister recently condemned use of torture

By Nizar Manek, 5 July 2018
(Bloomberg) --
Prisoners in Ethiopia’s eastern Somali region have been arbitrarily detained and tortured for years, Human Rights Watch said, as it urged the Horn of Africa nation’s new prime minister to order an investigation.
The allegations of abuse at the prison known as Jail Ogaden, which holds thousands of inmates mainly accused of links to a banned secessionist group, come after premier Abiy Ahmed told parliament in June that the country’s use of torture is unconstitutional. New York-based Human Rights Watch cited interviews with 70 former prisoners conducted between 2011 and this year in its report published Thursday.
(455 words)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-05/ethiopian-prison-abuses-need-urgent-probe-group-tells-premier