On June 5, 2017, Asmare Wereket, an ethnic Amhara, was sentenced to six years in prison under charges broadly labeled as terrorism. Just one day after the verdict, he was transferred to Ziway prison—a facility notorious for harsh conditions, lacking basic necessities such as clean water and access to family support. This sudden transfer, viewed by many as politically motivated, has stirred public outrage and reignited accusations of systemic discrimination and state-sanctioned repression against the Amhara people.
The sentencing and immediate transfer of Asmare to Ziway have been described not only as a miscarriage of justice but as a deliberate act of political punishment. Observers claim that the justice system is being weaponized by the ruling party—specifically, elements within the OPDO (now part of the Prosperity Party)—to suppress dissent and marginalize the Amhara population.
Critics argue that this is not an isolated incident. The same pattern was observed in the case of several other Amhara detainees, including those sentenced on March 23, 2017. Accused under similar terrorism charges, these individuals were handed prison terms ranging from 4 to 6 years. They include:
- Melake-Angel Example of the Kingdom
- Yilma Yeagreew
- Ermias Mekuria Guangul
- Gete Amenu Nega
- Tesfa Yelalew
- Abraham Ayana
- Fasika Kefyalew
- Bogale Wondimu
- Alemayehu H/Michael
- Hailu Wolde
- Andualem Ashagre Getaneh
Shockingly, most were sent to prison without being granted the opportunity to say goodbye to their families, underscoring the cruelty of the process and the lack of due process.
The Kilinto detention center, previously housing many of these prisoners, has become infamous for overcrowding and inhumane conditions. Despite some inmates having completed their sentences or being eligible for transfer, they remain held under unjust circumstances—further revealing the political nature of their incarceration.
This wave of detentions and punishments is widely interpreted as a deliberate anti-Amhara campaign by the state. Families of the prisoners, along with human rights advocates, argue that the Prosperity Party’s current administration is using the judicial system and penal institutions as tools to inflict both physical and psychological harm.
“These are not just legal actions—they are calculated acts of political terror,” said one observer. “The goal is not justice but submission.”
Such practices highlight a broader crisis of justice in Ethiopia. In an environment where institutions are controlled by political interests, the rule of law becomes secondary to ethnic and ideological agendas. The absence of due process, the strategic use of prison transfers, and the brutal separation of families all point to a system deeply compromised by ethnic bias and authoritarian control.
As more voices demand justice for Asmare Wereket and others like him, the call is growing louder: Justice for Amhara. Justice for All.
