Spotlight on the Struggle of Birtukan Mideksa:
Ethiopian Human Rights Activist in the Global
Women's Movement
1 June, 2010 | By Zainab Salbi
parliamentary elections in 2005 spurred violent protests, which led to
the arbitrary arrest and detainment of hundreds of opposition leaders,
journalists, human rights advocates and civilians. Birtukan was one of
those arrested in 2005, and she received a life imprisonment sentence.
Then, in 2007, Birtukan received a pardon and was released from
prison, only to be put back into prison once more in 2008 for
discussing the details of her prior arrest. Her original sentence of life
imprisonment has since been reinstated.
Much of Birtukan's time in prison has been spent in solitary
confinement. The only people allowed to visit Birtukan are her mother
and her four-year-old daughter. Before her arrest, Birtukan was the
main provider for her family, who is now suffering not only emotionally
but also financially from Birtukan's imprisonment. She is not allowed to
meet with any legal representation and the government refuses to listen
to her needs. There are even reports that she is being denied medical
treatment, despite numerous requests for a physician. The Red Cross
and other humanitarian officials are being denied access to the prison,
and the exact treatment of Birtukan is unknown.
When addressing the U.S. Congress in 2007, Birtukan stated that "only
through dialogue and negotiation will stability and peace be guaranteed"
in Ethiopia. In the context of the rampant human rights violations and
other oppressive government actions, advocates for peace and freedom
are desperately needed in Ethiopia. And yet, women like Birtukan are
still being denied the opportunity to negotiate this peace.
Birtukan's story represents the struggle women across the world are
facing to have a political voice and to stand up for human rights. Take
Jameela, a Palestinian woman from Gaza, who was imprisoned in Israel
for 2 years when she was 18 years old for smuggling letters for the
PLO. She was tortured. She was hanged from her hands for long
periods, put in solitary confinement for about 6 months, and had drops
of water dripping on her forehead for hours at a time. When she was
finally released from prison, her entire community wanted to abandon
her because they assumed she had been sexually abused in prison and
thus had her honor taken away. Only her father and her future husband
stood by her side. She is now living in a half-destroyed one-room house
with her entire family.
Or take Mona, a young activist from Iraq, who was continually raped
by a captain during the war so that he would not kill her brothers. This
captain started a habit of visiting her daily at her family home. There, he
would take her to a bedroom in her house, close the door behind him
(her brothers, mother and sisters are still in the living room), and rape
her. He would then leave her home. "Day after day, week after week,
month after month he did that and not once did my brothers or mother
said anything. As a matter of fact, when I would refuse to go with him,
they would scold me and urge me to go to him so he wouldn't get
upset. In the beginning, this whole ordeal was to save my brothers
from prison." Mona is now activist dedicated to rescuing prostituted
girls and women who, no different from her, ended up in a path not
because of their desires but because they were saving loved ones as she
saved her brothers.
According to the UN, 90% of modern war casualties are civilians, 75%
of which are women and children. That reality only addresses the death
tolls created by war. Statistics have yet to capture the price women pay
for wars often just for living in it and trying to survive it. On top of
political and military pressure, women are often faced with another
layer of community and traditional demands. Then there are the
women, like Birtukan, Jameela and Mona, who are trying to take a
stand against these wars and who end up facing extreme oppression
and human rights violations imposed by governments and military
groups.
The bravery of these women despite all odds is inspirational. Women
everywhere are paying a personal price for their political reality. It is
these women, and the millions of women survivors of conflict who are
striving every day to carry on in the midst of astronomical challenges,
who are pushing us forward in the global women's movement. It is
these women who are standing up for peace and equality, finding their
voices and speaking truth in the face of oppression and fear. These
women deserve to have their voices heard.
Courtesy
Ethiopian Human Rights Activist in the Global
Women's Movement
1 June, 2010 | By Zainab Salbi
- Today I would like to tell you the
story of Birtukan Mideksa, an
Ethiopian prisoner of conscience
who is facing life imprisonment for
speaking out against an oppressive
government. Birtukan is an
opposition leader of the Unity for
Democracy and Justice (formerly
Coalition for Unity and Democracy)
party and is advocating for
democracy and rule of law in
Ethiopia. After years of civil unrest
and war with Eritrea, Ethiopia is still
parliamentary elections in 2005 spurred violent protests, which led to
the arbitrary arrest and detainment of hundreds of opposition leaders,
journalists, human rights advocates and civilians. Birtukan was one of
those arrested in 2005, and she received a life imprisonment sentence.
Then, in 2007, Birtukan received a pardon and was released from
prison, only to be put back into prison once more in 2008 for
discussing the details of her prior arrest. Her original sentence of life
imprisonment has since been reinstated.
Much of Birtukan's time in prison has been spent in solitary
confinement. The only people allowed to visit Birtukan are her mother
and her four-year-old daughter. Before her arrest, Birtukan was the
main provider for her family, who is now suffering not only emotionally
but also financially from Birtukan's imprisonment. She is not allowed to
meet with any legal representation and the government refuses to listen
to her needs. There are even reports that she is being denied medical
treatment, despite numerous requests for a physician. The Red Cross
and other humanitarian officials are being denied access to the prison,
and the exact treatment of Birtukan is unknown.
When addressing the U.S. Congress in 2007, Birtukan stated that "only
through dialogue and negotiation will stability and peace be guaranteed"
in Ethiopia. In the context of the rampant human rights violations and
other oppressive government actions, advocates for peace and freedom
are desperately needed in Ethiopia. And yet, women like Birtukan are
still being denied the opportunity to negotiate this peace.
Birtukan's story represents the struggle women across the world are
facing to have a political voice and to stand up for human rights. Take
Jameela, a Palestinian woman from Gaza, who was imprisoned in Israel
for 2 years when she was 18 years old for smuggling letters for the
PLO. She was tortured. She was hanged from her hands for long
periods, put in solitary confinement for about 6 months, and had drops
of water dripping on her forehead for hours at a time. When she was
finally released from prison, her entire community wanted to abandon
her because they assumed she had been sexually abused in prison and
thus had her honor taken away. Only her father and her future husband
stood by her side. She is now living in a half-destroyed one-room house
with her entire family.
Or take Mona, a young activist from Iraq, who was continually raped
by a captain during the war so that he would not kill her brothers. This
captain started a habit of visiting her daily at her family home. There, he
would take her to a bedroom in her house, close the door behind him
(her brothers, mother and sisters are still in the living room), and rape
her. He would then leave her home. "Day after day, week after week,
month after month he did that and not once did my brothers or mother
said anything. As a matter of fact, when I would refuse to go with him,
they would scold me and urge me to go to him so he wouldn't get
upset. In the beginning, this whole ordeal was to save my brothers
from prison." Mona is now activist dedicated to rescuing prostituted
girls and women who, no different from her, ended up in a path not
because of their desires but because they were saving loved ones as she
saved her brothers.
According to the UN, 90% of modern war casualties are civilians, 75%
of which are women and children. That reality only addresses the death
tolls created by war. Statistics have yet to capture the price women pay
for wars often just for living in it and trying to survive it. On top of
political and military pressure, women are often faced with another
layer of community and traditional demands. Then there are the
women, like Birtukan, Jameela and Mona, who are trying to take a
stand against these wars and who end up facing extreme oppression
and human rights violations imposed by governments and military
groups.
The bravery of these women despite all odds is inspirational. Women
everywhere are paying a personal price for their political reality. It is
these women, and the millions of women survivors of conflict who are
striving every day to carry on in the midst of astronomical challenges,
who are pushing us forward in the global women's movement. It is
these women who are standing up for peace and equality, finding their
voices and speaking truth in the face of oppression and fear. These
women deserve to have their voices heard.
Courtesy
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| Useful Links Free Birtukan.org Ethiopian Human Rights Council Ethiopia Human Rights Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners |
| Three Generations of Prisoners in Ethiopia Today By Professor Negussay Ayele |
| A Humble Plea for Birtukan Mideksa's Release for the sake of Peace Rev. Tegga Lendado, PhD |
| Related Stories Ethiopia Will Keep Opposition Leader in Prison Beyond Elections By Jason McLure Why have they locked Birtukan in jail? By Abiye Teklemariam Megenta Does the World need another Martyr? The Case of Birtukan Mideksa By Chris Flaherty That Woman has names and charisma dear to millions Robele Ababya Marking Birtukan Mideksa’s one year in Prison ECADF Amnesty- Ethiopia: Free Birtukan Mideksa letter to US Secretary of State Jimma Times |
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