The Story of Dawit Isaak: Imprisoned for Speaking Out

Dawit Isaak is an Eritrean-Swedish journalist and writer who has been imprisoned in Eritrea since September 2001. Isaak was one of several journalists arrested during a government crackdown on independent media outlets in the country. He has been held incommunicado and without trial for over two decades, making him one of the world’s longest-serving imprisoned journalists.

Born on October 28, 1964, in Eritrea, Isaak fled to Sweden in 1987 during the Eritrean War of Independence. He became a Swedish citizen in 1992 and worked as a journalist and writer, including for the newspaper Expressen. In 2001, Isaak traveled to Eritrea to help set up an independent newspaper, Setit, which was critical of the Eritrean government.

Isaak’s arrest, along with several other journalists, marked the beginning of a sustained crackdown on the independent media in Eritrea. The government shut down all independent newspapers, arrested journalists and writers, and imposed strict censorship laws. Isaak was held incommunicado, without access to legal representation or visits from family members. In 2005, the Eritrean government acknowledged that it was holding Isaak but did not provide any details on his condition.

Over the years, various international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, have called for Isaak’s release. His case has been taken up by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which has declared his detention to be in violation of international law.

Despite these efforts, Isaak remains in prison to this day, and his health is reportedly deteriorating. His case is emblematic of the Eritrean government’s intolerance of dissent and the suppression of free speech. His continued imprisonment is a violation of his fundamental human rights, and the international community must continue to demand his immediate and unconditional release.

Dawit Isaak’s courage and commitment to independent journalism have earned him numerous awards and accolades, including the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in 2017. His story is a reminder of the importance of a free and independent press and the need to protect journalists and writers who risk their lives to expose the truth.