Imprisoned journalist receives 2011 Golden Pen of Freedom

The founder of Eritrea's first independent newspaper has been awarded the 2011 Golden Pen of Freedom from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

Dawit Isaak has been in prison for the past nine years without charge or trial according to WAN-IFRA, which awards the Golden Pen annually to those who show "outstanding action" in support of press freedom.

In a release WAN-IFRA says that Isaak, who has dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship, was imprisoned following the suppression of the independent media in Eritrea in 2001, "one of the worst countries in the world for press freedom".

It was placed bottom of the Reporters Without Borders' 2010 press freedom index out of 178 countries worldwide and according to WAN-IFRA is Africa's biggest jailer of journalists.

"Dawit Isaak, who was forced to flee his native land for Sweden but returned because of his dedication to an independent press and democratic principles, should be celebrated for his actions. Eritrea's rulers, among the most repressive in the world, have chosen to imprison him instead," says the board of WAN-IFRA in the release.

"Isaak has faced enormous hardships, yet his commitment to press freedom and human rights has never diminished. It takes courage for a journalist to work and not compromise under such circumstances, and Isaak serves as an inspiration to press people everywhere."

Isaak fled Eritrea in 1987, arriving in Sweden as a refugee and becoming a Swedish citizen in 1992. He later returned to Eritrea in 1996 after the country had gained independence and co-founded what WAN-IFRA claims to be Eritrea's first independent newspaper, Setit.

"In 2001, after Setit and other newspapers published an open letter from 15 cabinet ministers calling for democratic reform and an investigation into events leading up to Eritrea's recurring war with Ethiopia, all private press outlets in the country were shut down. Eleven of the 15 ministers were arrested, along with Isaak and 13 other newspaper owners, editors and journalists," the release adds.

"None of them have ever been formally charged or tried. Isaak and the others who were arrested have all been branded as traitors. Four of the journalists who were detained in 2001 have reportedly died in prison."

His whereabouts today are unknown and WAN-IFRA says it calls on Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki to free Isaak immediately.

The presentation of the 2010 Golden Pen, which was awarded to Iranian journalist Ahmad Zeid-Abadi, was held at the World Editors Forum in Hamburg earlier this month.

Zeid-Abadi, who has worked for a range of daily and weekly newspapers in the country, is also in prison and so his award was accepted on his behalf by fellow Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji.

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