Ethiopia: Human Rights

Mr. David Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Ethiopian government on the imprisonment of Professor Mesfin Woldermariam.

Dr. Howells
We have made numerous representations to the Government of Ethiopia over the imprisonment of all opposition political leaders, including Mesfin Woldermariam, including at ministerial level and with EU partners. We urged the Ethiopian government to ensure that the trial for those detained was swift, transparent and fair, and that their individual human rights were respected.

I am delighted that Mesfin Woldermariam was one of those pardoned by the President of Ethiopia and released on 20 July.