Coordinator Forward Maisokwadzo, who has organised his visit, says: “Our aim is to raise public awareness about the harassment and censorship facing journalists in Ethiopia . It is a grave disappointment that one of their strongest defenders is being prevented from coming to Britain to speak out on their behalf. We are calling on the Foreign Office to reverse this decision as a matter of urgency. We would urge press freedom activists everywhere to make representations on his behalf to the British authorities.”
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office website states: ‘The human rights situation in Ethiopia is poor… Journalists in the independent press who criticise the Government are at risk of arbitrary arrest and detention.’
Britain has been rigorously enforcing a new visa regime designed to stop the flow of African migrants into the UK, especially with the new European Union countries releasing millions of workers onto the UK labour market.
Several Zimbabwean sporting and entertainment stars have been barred from the UK over fears that they would not return.
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(Source: EJN - Exiled Journalists Network)
