Dawit Isaak

Dawit Isaak
Born (1964-10-28) 28 October 1964
Asmara, Ethiopia
CitizenshipEritrean, Swedish
OccupationsPlaywright, journalist and writer
ChildrenBetlehem Isaak, Danait Isaak, Yorun Isaak
Writing career
Notable workHope
Notable awardsNorwegian Freedom of Expression Prize (2009)

Dawit Isaak (born 28 October 1964) is an Eritrean-Swedish playwright, journalist and writer who has been held in prison in Eritrea since 2001 without charges or a trial and is considered a traitor by the Eritrean government.[1] Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and has called for his immediate and unconditional release.[2] As of 2025, he is considered to be one of the world's longest continuously detained journalists.[3] Mike Balsamo, the president of the National Press Club claims him to be the longest detained journalist in the world.[4]

Asylum and Swedish citizenship

Dawit migrated to Sweden in August 1987, upon which he settled in the city of Gothenburg. He became a Swedish citizen on 4 November 1992. When Eritrea gained independence, Dawit returned to his native country, married and had children. He began working as a reporter for the country's first independent newspaper, Setit. Eventually, he became a part-owner of the newspaper.[1]

Possible replica of the prison cell of Dawit Isaak, exhibited at Mediedagarna i Göteborg (on Svenska Mässan), March 2015[5]

Imprisonment

On 23 September 2001, Isaak was arrested in his home in Asmara; his newspaper, Setit, was immediately shut down.[6] At the same time, ten other independent journalists (including Temesgen Ghebreyesus, Seyoum Tsehaye, Fesshaye Yohannes, Medhanie Haile, and Amanuel Asrat)[6][7][8] and eleven prominent reformist politicians of the G-15 were arrested,[9] ostensibly for demanding democratic reforms in a series of letters to President Isaias Afwerki. The independent press, including the Setit newspaper, had covered the confrontation between the president and the reformers.

In April 2002, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that Dawit was hospitalized due to torture. The Eritrean government denied allegations of torture but did not allow anyone to visit Dawit, who had not been tried before a court. Because he held dual Swedish and Eritrean citizenship, Swedish authorities began working for his release, using "silent diplomacy" according to government sources.[10]

On 19 November 2005, Dawit was released from jail; according to official Eritrean sources, he was released only to see a doctor. While on his way to a hospital, Dawit was arrested again after just two days. He is believed to be held in Carchele prison in central Asmara.[11]

Every week, a number of organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the National Press Club, petition the Eritrean embassy in Stockholm to free Dawit.[12] On 27 March 2009, four of the five largest newspapers in Sweden – Aftonbladet, Expressen, Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet – featured a plea for the release of Dawit on their front pages. In addition, the five newspapers featured joint reports on Dawit's situation and wrote a joint petition, which was handed over to the Eritrean embassy in Stockholm on 4 May.[13][14] By that date, 209,963 people had signed the petition.[15]

Rumors about death

On several occasions, rumors have circulated that Dawit is no longer alive. For example, on 27 October 2011, his 47th birthday, Swedish commercial radio channel Radio 1 claimed that Dawit could well be dead.[16][17]

23 years in prison

On 23 September 2024, Dawit Isaak marked 23 years in imprisonment. Several demonstrations and campaigns highlighted his situation during the autumn of 2024, including a commemoration of his 60th birthday on 27 October. This event, held in Stockholm at the House of Authors, featured representatives from media, organisations such as Swedish PEN, Free Dawit, and Reporters Without Borders, as well as members of his family.[18][19][20]

Sweden

On 26 May 2009, during an interview with TV4, Isaias dismissed the case altogether, saying "We will not have any trial and we will not free him. We know how to handle his kind [...] To me, Sweden is irrelevant. The Swedish government has nothing to do with us."[21]

The "silent diplomacy" method that the Swedish authorities have employed to work for Isaak's release has been criticized by the Swedish media, and the president of the Swedish branch of Reporters Without Borders, Jesper Bengtsson, issued a statement in April 2010 saying that "[i]t is a disgrace that Dawit remains in prison and it is remarkable that the Swedish government does not try harder to get him released."[22]

During the autumn of 2024, various efforts were made to bring attention back to Isaak's case. A motion titled "Release of Dawit Isaak and Defence of Freedom of Speech" (Motion 2024/25:2181) was submitted by Social Democrats Helén Pettersson and Fredrik Lundh Sammeli.[23]

In the Government Statement on 10 September 2024 titled "For a Richer and Safer Sweden," Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson mentioned Dawit Isaak.[24]

On 18 September 2024, Reporters Without Borders Sweden filed a complaint with the Swedish Prosecution Authority, accusing eight senior Eritrean officials, including President Isaias Afwerki, of crimes against humanity, torture, and enforced disappearance in the case of Dawit Isaak. This marked RSF's fourth attempt to prompt legal action in Sweden regarding Dawit. The complaint was supported by Swedish PEN and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights.[25]

On 19 November 2024, the Swedish Prosecution Authority announced it would not launch a preliminary investigation into the allegations of crimes against humanity committed by Eritrean officials in Dawit's case. This decision coincided with Isaak being awarded the Edelstam Prize 2024 on the same day for his extraordinary courage in defending freedom of expression and human rights.[26] Reporters Without Borders expressed deep disappointment at the decision. The organisation has submitted multiple complaints over the years, urging Swedish authorities to investigate the Eritrean leadership's actions in relation to Dawit's prolonged detention. Despite these efforts, the Prosecution Authority concluded that the lengthy duration of Isaak's imprisonment did not provide sufficient grounds to justify opening a new investigation.[27]

In December 2025, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard visited Eritrea, marking the first visit to Eritrea by a Swedish official in 32 years. Stenergard stated that Dawit is still alive, but the Swedish government did not receive any concrete proof of his status.[28]

Canada

On 27 November 2024, MP Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan) submitted a petition regarding Dawit Isaak's case to the Canadian Parliament: Petition to the House of Commons – 441-02901 (Foreign Affairs).[29][30]

United States

In the United States, Senator Dick Durbin called for the release of political prisoners worldwide. On 11 December 2024, Durbin opened his Senate floor speech by addressing Eritrea and Dawit Isaak's case.[31]

Awards

  • On 2 March 2007, Isaak was awarded a newly established prize, dedicated to the memory of Anna Politkovskaya and awarded by the Swedish National Press Club.
  • In 2009 Isaak was awarded the Kurt-Tucholsky-Prize by the Swedish PENAssociation.
  • He was awarded the Norwegian "Ytringsfrihetsprisen", the Freedom of Expression Prize for 2009, at the annual meeting of the Norwegian Authors' Union on 14 March 2010.
  • In October 2011 Isaak received the Golden Pen of Freedom Award of the World Association of Newspapers. The award was handed over in Vienna to his brother Esias Isaak.
  • In March 2017 he received the 2017 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.[32]
  • In November 2024, Dawit Isaak was awarded The Edelstam Prize for his outstanding contributions and exceptional courage in standing up for freedom of expression, one's beliefs, and in the defence of Human Rights.[33]

Bibliography

See Also

Gui Minhai Another imprisoned Swedish citizen

References

  1. 1 2 "Sveriges ende samvetsfånge Dawit Isaak – en bakgrund". Sveriges Radio. 24 March 2009. Archived from the original on 27 January 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  2. ↑ "Annual Report 2011". Amnesty International. 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Dawit Isaak". PEN America. 2 November 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
  4. ↑ "Eritrea Must Free Journalist Dawit Isaak, Detained 23 Years".
  5. ↑ "Varmt tack till er som var med under Meg!". freedawit.com. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Eritrea: Dawit Isaak arbitrarily detained for 24 years without trial — and information on his whereabouts | RSF". rsf.org. 23 September 2025. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Medhanie Haile". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Berger, Susanne (3 May 2023). "Dawit Isaak Who?". Inkstick. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Blogger, Solomon Abera/CPJ Guest (18 September 2011). "When Eritrea shut down the independent press". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Hoff, Simon (2 November 2007). "Öppet hus för gymnasielärare" (in Swedish). Government of Sweden. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  11. ↑ "Livstecken från Dawit" (in Swedish). Mothugg. 11 March 2005. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  12. ↑ "Weekly protests against Eritrea to free journalist". afrol News. 6 January 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  13. ↑ Larsson, Thorbjörn; Mattsson, Thomas; Samuelsson, Lena K; Helin, Jan; Jungkvist, Kalle (26 March 2009). "Free Dawit Isaak: Five Swedish editors-in-chief join forces to get the journalist Dawit Isaak free". Dagens Nyheter. Archived from the original on 6 May 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  14. ↑ Carlbom, Mats (4 May 2009). "Namnunderskrifterna överlämnade". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  15. ↑ "Totalt skrev nästan 210.000 personer under". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 4 May 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  16. ↑ Svahn, Clas (27 October 2011). "Dawit Isaak är flyttad från fängelset". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  17. ↑ "Sources: Swedish journalist died in Eritrean prisons" (in Norwegian). vg.no. Associated Press. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  18. ↑ "Manifestation: Dawit Isaak turns 60 years old". Svenska PEN (Swedish PEN). 25 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "Dawit Isaak 60 – Another birthday in captivity". Amnesty International Sweden. 26 October 2024.
  20. ↑ "Betlehem Isaak: "Not One More Birthday in Captivity"". Journalisten (The Journalist). 25 October 2024.
  21. ↑ "Dawit Isaak friges inte". Sydsvenskan (in Swedish). Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå. 26 May 2009. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  22. ↑ "Witness Account of Imprisoned Dawit Isaak". Sveriges Radio. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  23. ↑ "MOTION 2024/25:2181 BY MP HELÉN PETTERSSON (S) AND MP FREDRIK LUNDH SAMMELI (S) TITLED: THE RELEASE OF DAWIT ISAAK AND THE DEFENSE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION". The Swedish Parliament, Documents & Laws Riksdagen.se. 3 October 2024.
  24. ↑ "STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT POLICY: SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER ULF KRISTERSSON OF SWEDEN (10 SEPTEMBER 2024)" (PDF). Swedish Government, regeringen.se. 10 September 2024.
  25. ↑ "New Complaint Filed Against Eritrea's President – Accused of Crimes Against Humanity (Swedish)". Reporters Without Borders Sweden reportrarutangranser.se. 18 September 2024.
  26. ↑ "World's Longest Arbitrarily Detained Journalist Receives the Edelstam Prize". edelstam.org. 19 November 2024.
  27. ↑ "Swedish Prosecution Authority will not launch a preliminary investigation in Dawit Isaak's case – "A slap in the face!" (Swedish)". Swedish National Radio (Sveriges Radio) sverigesradio.se. 20 November 2024.
  28. ↑ ""Naivt att tro man bara kan hämta hem honom"". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 19 December 2025. ISSN 1101-2412. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
  29. ↑ "PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS – 441-02901 (FOREIGN AFFAIRS)". Parliament of Canada, House of Commons. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  30. ↑ "Responses to the Petition 441-02901 (FOREIGN AFFAIRS)". Parliament of Canada, House of Commons ourcommons.ca. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  31. ↑ "US SENATOR DURBIN URGES THE RELEASE OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AROUND THE WORLD ON SENATE FLOOR". US Congress, Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  32. ↑ "Eritrean-born journalist Dawit Isaak awarded UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2017". UNESCO. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  33. ↑ "WORLD'S LONGEST ARBITRARILY DETAINED JOURNALIST RECEIVES THE EDELSTAM PRIZE". edelstam.org. 11 November 2024.
  34. ↑ "Hopp : historien om Moses och Mannas kärlek & andra texter / Dawit Isaak ; (redaktörer: Björn Tunbäck och Swante Weyler ; utgiven i samarbete med Alfabeta ...)", libris.se. Retrieved 29 May 2011.

Further reading

  • Karlsson, Johan; Sjöberg, Rickard (2004). Dawit och friheten: om den svenske samvetsfången och Eritreas inställda demokratisering (in Swedish). Stockholm: Silc Publishing House. ISBN 91-974771-7-6.
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