ESAT News
December 24, 2013
The members of the Ethiopian Muslims Arbitration Committee that have been detained since last year have said that they were ‘physically and mentally tortured’ in the Central Prison, Addis Abeba.
They said they were forced to stand for over 14 hours per day, were lynched wires until their skins bruised, shackling them, blindfolding them and beating the soles of their feet, denying them sleep and prayers, disrespecting their religion and grace, forcing them to shave their beard, denying them visitation by their families, solicitors, doctors and religious leaders, forcing them to do difficult exercises, struck their genitals, were threatened that their children will be killed, their wives will be tortured and a bottled water will be hand on his genital to castrate them.
The Committee members said in their statement that although article 18 Sub Article 1 of the Country’s Constitution states “ Everyone shall have the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”, they have been tortured throughout the seasons and were forced to ‘admit, speak and sign’.
They said that had spoken out to the Court about the tortures they had gone through in prisons but it had continued as they returned to their cells from court. They said, when they asked for the respect of the Constitution and rights, the tortures responded saying “tear and throw the Constitution, we came here paying sacrifices”.
They said although it is imperative that their court proceedings have been open, they were closed.
The members of the Committee have said that the unity and respect among Muslims and between Christians and Muslims should be protected. They vowed to continue their peaceful struggle and pay all the sacrifices. They also said that they are ready for the next stage of the peaceful struggle.
The Committee also called on the government to stop the inhuman acts committed in central prisons and release prisoners’ of conscience.
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