As journalists welcome efforts to support press freedom in Ethiopia, draft law against hate speech causes concerns.
Elias Meseret, an Ethiopian journalist with more than 11 years’ experience, is feeling optimistic as he marks World Press Freedom Day on Friday.
Little more than a year ago, Ethiopia was known as one of the world’s worst persecutors of journalistswith the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front’s (EPRDF) tight grip leading
to dozens of journalists being exiled, as others were imprisoned.
However, since reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took over the chairmanship of EPRDF and the premiership in April 2018, Ethiopia has moved to unblock hundreds of dissident websites,
welcome back exiled journalists and media outlets, as well as ease the work environment for journalists.
Meseret has taken advantage of the more relaxed atmosphere, launching a social-media news service to fight fake news and hate speech, which have grown recently.
The new order is being abused, he said, because once-repressed voices have been given the chance to be aired publicly.
“I see that the opening of the media space has presented Ethiopians with new opportunities to express their views freely and with it also the dangers of hate speech,” said Meseret.
The Ethiopian government says it is aware of this and is preparing legislation that would impose up to three years in prison for those found to be disseminating hate speech and fake news.
Billene Seyoum, a spokeswoman at the prime minister’s office, says Ethiopia is trying to ensure accountability comes with renewed press freedom by drafting anti-hate speech legislation.
“Both citizens and government have responsibility to ensure the fabric of Ethiopian society isn’t broken,” she said.
Meseret, however, is concerned that newfound media freedom could be curtailed with the anti-hate speech draft legislation.
