Ethiopian Journalists Accused For Investigating Adoption Scandal

The editor-in-chief released on 5,000 Ethiopian  Birr ($260) bail

Firew Abebe the editor-in-chief of Sendek ( one of the few renaming dissident and critical newspapers in the country ) told AddisAdmass, a local Amharic weekly that he appeared at the Makelawi Police Investigation Prison last Thursday accused of defamation following publishing an investigative report about adoption malpractices in Ethiopia. The case was filed against the editor by Ethiopia's Women, Youth & Children Ministry. 

According to Firew, his paper published an Editorial under the title "The Campaign Against Adoption Should Start with Accountability" and OP-ed entitled Adoption & the loopholes in our Legal System on its legal column. 

Some of the funny accusations filed by the Ministry includes among others: damaging the country's image, eroding the credibility of the legal system and defamation against the Minister in charge. 

Firew added the accusation was meant to threaten his paper from exposing the rampant rent seeking and corruption in Ethiopia and vowed to make every sacrifices the profession demands to get the job done. 

Source: AddisAdmass