Swedish-Eritrean Dawit Isaak
Swedish Expressen reports that Tesfamariam Tekeste Debbas, Eritrea’s ambassador to Israel told the evening tabloid that Dawit Issak the imprisoned Swedish-Eritrean journalist is “ok” and alive.
The ambassador made this remarks after the Expressen asked unexpectedly about Dawit’s well-being during a press conference held to discuss the plight of tens of thousands of Eritrean refugees in Israel. He also told the paper that Dawit Isaak ‘s nationality is Eritrean first and Swedish second, because he had the Eritrean id card before he went to Sweden and obtained Swedish nationality.
According to Tekeste, Dawit was jailed because he broke the law of the country while he entered Eritrea with an Eritrean id and passport and therefore he is perceived as an Eritrean national by the Eritrean government.
During the press conference the Ambassador tried to assure the press that the Eritreans in Israel are no refugees and that they have nothing to fear if returning to their country and that democratization in Eritrea would take its time.
“Why do they not stay in Eritrea and form an opposition? I was a freedom fighter, you have to fight for your views.“, the Ambassador said.
According to Amnesty International and other human rights groups Eritrea has one of the most restricted dictatorial systems with limited human rights and freedom of expression. Many people are jailed because of crimes against “national security”.
The 49-year-old Swedish-Eritrean journalist is imprisoned in Eritrea since 23 September 2001. He was jailed together with other activists and journalists who called for political reforms. Dawit has a wife and three children in Sweden.
