7,000 days in prison – brother’s struggle

Sunday morning, September 23, 2001 arrested Dawit Isaak security police in his home in the Eritrean capital Asmara. He had written about reformist politicians’ criticism of the regime in his newspaper – and was one of a number of politicians and journalists who were simultaneously imprisoned in President Isaiah Afewerki’s crackdown on the opposition.

Since then, 7,000 days have passed, more than 19 years, and the Swedish-Eritrean journalist and author is extra imprisoned. His family and friends are fighting together with media and human rights organizations for his release. They are convinced that he is alive, but a release now works more remotely than in a long time.

Civil war in Ethiopia

The peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia two years ago after decades of war also aroused optimism about the improved situation of the thousands of political prisoners. But recently civil war broke out in Ethiopia – where Eritrea is also involved – and no one believes anymore that the Eritrean regime, one of the world’s worst dictatorships, has a view on human rights in the current situation.

– 7,000 days, this is a day of sorrow. The years go by, the days tick, he has missed so much in life. But hope is the last thing that comes over one, says brother Esayas Isaak in Gothenburg.

– I think of my brother every day. We are always worried about his physical and mental health. But now covid-19 is increasing that concern, he says.

Grew up without dad

During the 7,000 days, Dawit Isaaks has turned 56 and his three children have grown up without him making them grow up.

The daughter Bethlehem Isaak told in her gripping “Summer” program in July about growing up without the father. About how she remembers the hugs she got when he picked her up at the preschool in Asmara. About how he always stood up for his children and how he encouraged them to read books.

The last time she saw him was in 2002 in a prison hospital in Eritrea.

– For many years I forced myself to play old videos to remember how his voice sounds. I had to quickly stick to something that was real. In those moments we were together, she told in “Summer in P1”.

“Never without hope”

Earlier this year, Angered’s Theater performed a play based on her book about what it is like to be the daughter of Dawit Isaak.

Nor does Bethlehem Isaac give up hope. She has just posted a post on Instagram that she met Dilya, and a woman whose brother has been imprisoned for 19 years in Uzbekistan – and is now free. The brother’s fate is depicted in the new film “Only the devil lives without hope”.

She writes how much she identifies with Dilya as Has fought in tears, sadness, despair and anger but never without hope”.

“I recognized myself so much, and it is certainly nice that you are not alone in fighting for freedom after all”, writes Bethlehem Isaak on Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHvm7-MJXD5/

Convinced he was alive

Relatives and others who are committed to Dawit Isaak are convinced that he is alive. Eritrean ministers and other representatives have repeatedly said he is alive. In his “Summer” program, Bethlehem Isaac quickly said, “Yes, my father lives,” but would say no more with reference to “silent diplomacy.”

– We got new indications that he is alive this spring. This is credible information. And we must believe in them, otherwise we can not continue to work, says Leif Öbrink, chairman of Free Dawit Support Group.

– I suffer with Dawit and the family. This means that I can succeed in helping him to be free during these 7,000 days, he says.

Also the journalist and author Martin Schibbye, who published the book last year “The Hunt for Dawit”, emphasizes that there are new sure signs that Dawit Isaak has been seen alive. He says Eritrea would certainly have announced if he had died, “in order not to keep the issue alive”.

“Paid the highest price”

According to Schibbye, many hoped that the peace between Eritrea and Ethiopia in 2018 could drive development in Eritrea in a democratic direction and thus lead to the release of political prisoners. Today, however, the Eritrean regime’s main focus is on the recent flare-up at the country’s border, but “beyond the conflict lives hope,” he says.

– On an anniversary like this, we will think of Dawit Isaak for his journalism that led to his imprisonment. He covered the war between Eritrea and Ethiopia and let both sides speak. It reminds of the important role of journalists to also explain the opposing side in war, says Martin Schibbye.

– While I feel sad that a colleague has been imprisoned for so long, we can also feel proud that we in our country have a journalist who pays the highest price for us to know what happens in war. It sheds light on how important journalism is in countries that are getting better at war, he says.

“Inhuman” conditions

The UN and Amnesty International have called on Eritrea to increase the number of prisoners and release all political and conscientious objectors due to the risk of spreading the pandemic in the country. Dear “Defenseless against covid-19 in overcrowded and unhealthy” prisons, according to Amnesty. which calls for conditions in Eritrean prisons “Inhuman”.

According to the Amnesty report Eritrean prisons are overcrowded with up to four times the number of prisoners they are intended for. Prisoners are rarely allowed to shower or wash their clothes, access to toilets is severely restricted and prisoners depend on relatives for hygiene items and other necessities. Conditions that increase the risk of infection, not just covid.

It is unclear which prison Dawit Isaak is in today. According to information, he will be back in a prison in Asmara. Ten years ago, a defected prison guard told that Isaak was detained in the infamous high-security prison Eraeiro out in the desert where the prisoners were trapped in containers and many suffered from malnutrition and disease.