An
Ethiopian judge has again delayed the verdict in the case of 24 people charged with terrorism, including a prominent
journalist and an opposition member, a defence lawyer said Thursday.
The verdict is
now expected to be delivered on June 27, in order to give the judges time to
"evaluate and pass a decision", lawyer Abebe Guta said. Among those
charged are prominent journalist Eskinder Nega
and opposition member Andualem Arage. Both appeared in court in suits
and smiled and waved to friends and family as they filed into the
courtroom.
The courtroom was packed with family members, journalists and diplomats, including US
Ambassador Donald Booth.
This is the second time the verdict has been delayed.
Judges were expected to deliver a ruling on May 11, but said the defendants' case
had not been transcribed in full.
Eskinder
was honoured in New York last month with a "freedom to
write" award from the US-based media watchdog PEN.
He was arrested last year after publishing articles asking
whether the Arab Spring uprisings could have an influence in Ethiopia and
questioning
the arrests of Ethiopians under the country's anti-terrorism law.
He is one of 11 independent journalists and bloggers charged
with
terrorism since 2011, according to the
Committee to Protect Journalists, which says Ethiopia's media is one of the most restricted in the
world.
Rights groups have accused Ethiopian officials of using anti-terrorism legislation
to stifle peaceful dissent.
The 24 on
trial were charged with terrorism in September 2011, and could face the death
penalty if found guilty. Source ( AFP)
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