human rights defender
Eremias Mekuria
HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER
Urgent support needed
As he is located in another country, he needs immediate financial support for his medical coverage and phycological support.
HRD's Gender
Man
Type of HRD
- Other
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- Economic, social and cultural rights
HRD's geographical origin
Urban
Current Status
Released
HRD's bio and work
Eremias Mekuria is a HRD with many years of activism focused on documenting human rights violations, against members of the Amhara community. His work included collecting first-hand testimonies from victims of ethnic-based violence, conducting social media advocacy campaigns, mobilizing humanitarian assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and coordinating emergency food, shelter, and medical support through private networks and local partners. He also advocated for improved humanitarian access, monitored prison conditions, supported detainees’ legal defense, and documented forced evictions and urban displacement linked to development projects in Addis Ababa. His activism was community-based, independent, and publicly visible.
On May 12, 2023, he was arbitrarily arrested near Semen Hotel in Addis Ababa by members of the Federal Police SWAT without an arrest warrant.
Detained since
May 12, 2023
Date of release
Jan 23, 2026
Charge(s)
- Terrorism
Sentence
After ten days of unlawful detention, he was presented before the Gelan Woreda Court and accused of terrorism-related activities. He was not allowed to meaningfully raise complaints regarding his treatment. He was subsequently held for two months at the Federal Police Crime Investigation Center, transferred to Kilinto Prison (including time in the “Punishment Zone”), later detained at Kaliti Maximum Security Prison, and eventually transferred to Ziway Maximum Security Federal Prison.
Latitude: 7.930629530457397
Longitude: 38.71612071695154
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Africa: Sub-Saharan Africa
Location of detention - City/Town
Oromia, Ethiopia
Location of detention - Facility
Zeway
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Between May 12 and May 26, 2023, he was subjected to severe torture and ill-treatment. He endured repeated beatings with electric cables, punches, and slaps; his left hand was crushed with a hole puncher; his right big toe was broken with a rifle butt; and he sustained a torn knee ligament and spinal disc injury due to violent assault. He was subjected to mock execution, forced to kneel at the edge of a dug grave while officers pulled the trigger of an unloaded weapon, and received death threats against his children. He was exposed to ethnic-based insults and dehumanizing language, forced to disclose his social media passwords, and interrogated regarding alleged sponsors, humanitarian aid mobilization, and accusations of terrorism. He was detained in unsanitary conditions, deprived of food and water for extended hours, and psychologically intimidated by being shown injured detainees prior to interrogation. Medical evidence later confirmed several of the physical injuries resulting from the torture.
As a result of torture and prolonged detention, he suffers from ongoing physical injuries, including knee ligament damage, spinal disc injury, and hand trauma, as well as significant psychological distress and trauma-related symptoms
Recent case update / evolution
Following his release, he continues to face serious protection concerns. Authorities have reportedly indicated that his previous sentence was insufficient and have expressed intent to pursue harsher charges if the opportunity arises. currently the HRD is exiled from his origin country.
Attachments
Documented by
- Country(ies) of nationality
- HRD's Gender
- Man
- Type of HRD
- Other
- HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Civil and political rights
- Economic, social and cultural rights
- HRD's Picture
- HRD's bio and work
Eremias Mekuria is a HRD with many years of activism focused on documenting human rights violations, against members of the Amhara community. His work included collecting first-hand testimonies from victims of ethnic-based violence, conducting social media advocacy campaigns, mobilizing humanitarian assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and coordinating emergency food, shelter, and medical support through private networks and local partners. He also advocated for improved humanitarian access, monitored prison conditions, supported detainees’ legal defense, and documented forced evictions and urban displacement linked to development projects in Addis Ababa. His activism was community-based, independent, and publicly visible.
On May 12, 2023, he was arbitrarily arrested near Semen Hotel in Addis Ababa by members of the Federal Police SWAT without an arrest warrant.
- HRD's geographical origin
- Urban
- Country or area of detention
- Region of detention
- Africa: Sub-Saharan Africa
- Location of detention - City/Town
- Oromia, Ethiopia
- Location of detention - Facility
- Zeway
- Geolocation of detention
Latitude: 7.930629530457397
Longitude: 38.71612071695154
- Geolocation of detention
- Detained since
- May 12, 2023
- Current Status
- Released
- Date of release
- Jan 23, 2026
- Charge(s)
- Terrorism
- Sentence
After ten days of unlawful detention, he was presented before the Gelan Woreda Court and accused of terrorism-related activities. He was not allowed to meaningfully raise complaints regarding his treatment. He was subsequently held for two months at the Federal Police Crime Investigation Center, transferred to Kilinto Prison (including time in the “Punishment Zone”), later detained at Kaliti Maximum Security Prison, and eventually transferred to Ziway Maximum Security Federal Prison.
- Recent case update / evolution
Following his release, he continues to face serious protection concerns. Authorities have reportedly indicated that his previous sentence was insufficient and have expressed intent to pursue harsher charges if the opportunity arises. currently the HRD is exiled from his origin country.
- Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Between May 12 and May 26, 2023, he was subjected to severe torture and ill-treatment. He endured repeated beatings with electric cables, punches, and slaps; his left hand was crushed with a hole puncher; his right big toe was broken with a rifle butt; and he sustained a torn knee ligament and spinal disc injury due to violent assault. He was subjected to mock execution, forced to kneel at the edge of a dug grave while officers pulled the trigger of an unloaded weapon, and received death threats against his children. He was exposed to ethnic-based insults and dehumanizing language, forced to disclose his social media passwords, and interrogated regarding alleged sponsors, humanitarian aid mobilization, and accusations of terrorism. He was detained in unsanitary conditions, deprived of food and water for extended hours, and psychologically intimidated by being shown injured detainees prior to interrogation. Medical evidence later confirmed several of the physical injuries resulting from the torture.
As a result of torture and prolonged detention, he suffers from ongoing physical injuries, including knee ligament damage, spinal disc injury, and hand trauma, as well as significant psychological distress and trauma-related symptoms
- Urgent support needed
As he is located in another country, he needs immediate financial support for his medical coverage and phycological support.
- Documented by
- Consent status
- Consent to register, store and publish the information
Supporting files
sorted by
Date added
3 relationships, 2 entities