The state-led campaign of mass and arbitrary detentions of thousands of people in Ethiopia’s Amhara region has become “very worrying”, said Amnesty International (AI) in its latest report seen by APA on Wednesday.
The Human rights organization said thousands of people have been detained in the region without charges and the international silence over the mass and arbitrary detentions in the region is beyond shameful.
“Ethiopia’s development partners, as well as African and global human rights bodies, must use their influence to publicly call for the release of all victims of arbitrary detention,’ the report said.
It also noted that the world must stop turning a blind eye to Ethiopia’s human rights crisis as the Ethiopian government continues to trample on the rule of law.
“Keeping thousands of people locked up for months without charge or trials is a travesty of justice and a blatant human rights violation,” Tigere Chagutah, AI’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
On 28 September 2024, Ethiopia’s army and Amhara regional security forces arbitrarily rounded up thousands of people across the Amhara region and brought them to four mass detention centers.
Members of the judiciary, including judges, as well as prosecutors and academics were among the people targeted.
In January 2025, authorities released hundreds of people, including three judges, women, elderly people and people suffering chronic health issues. Thousands are held in custody without charges.
MG/abj/APA