It is a current phenomenon that ever-growing mobocracy is conspiring to hijack freedom of thoughts and freedom of expression thereby compelling the ‘mentalists’ toward prisoners of conscience.
This remark was made by officials from Ethiopia Human Rights entities that were approached by The Ethiopian Herald. The Ethiopian Human Rights Council (HRCO) Director, Biniam Abate said that herd mentalities are seen barring optional and preferable thoughts generated by deep-thinkers. This bent lurks to handcuff free market place ideas.
Regarding whether the existence of prisoners of conscience or not, he noted that on the basis of HRCO’s evidences and inquires, the non-existence of prisoners of conscience has been confirmed. Such a violation has not been committed on any individual across the country. Ethiopia exercises care not to violate the very concept of individual inalienable human rights.
As to him, as experience world over shows detaining vibrant individuals to make them prisoners of conscience has resulted in bad consequences. It affects the morality of individuals and disturbs social orders in the form of constitutional human right violations. Creating prisoners of conscience emanates from suspicious thoughts of the government bodies, including enforcement agencies. The victims are individuals seen potential threats for national security and stability.
“Spawning prisoners of conscience also encompasses hijacking of personal outlooks through means of group mentality, scare-tactic, fear-mongering and intimidation and psychological tortures, among others” he added. Ethiopia Human Rights commissioner, Dr. Daniel Bekele on his part stated that according to International Human Rights Movement, if any individual is imprisoned for peaceful expression of political and religious beliefs, s/he is categorized as prisoner of conscience.
He remarked that, more often, government bodies are the ones towards which the butt of severe criticism is directed pertaining to the subjection of individuals as prisoners of conscience. Particularly, enforcement agencies, such as the police, military personnel and opposition armed forces are allegedly or otherwise accused of engaging in such inhuman acts.
About the maleficent effect of imprisonment of conscience, he pointed-out that imprisonment of conscience subjects individuals toward psychological harms. Actually, among those who are subjected to imprisonment of conscience, there are individuals, who have the capability to resist psychological harms, whereas there are also individuals who are brittle to cushion the impacts of imprisonment of conscience.
Concerning the existence of hate speech and bullying, he noted that warding off hate speech and bullying have been given due concern by the government bodies. Due to this, the government has finalized its preparation against the dissemination of inflammatory and denigrator speeches that make the mob get locked in destructive activities on the spur of the moment without a cool head. It is cognizant of this fact the incumbent is rolling its sleeves to get anti-hate speech laws get rolling after ratified by parliamentarians.
Freedom of expression should be limited to the extent that it does not inflict harm on a person’s dignity. At the same time, there is a need to exercise care that anti-hate speech laws must not limit freedom of expression. About the existence of prisoners of conscience here in the country, he remarked that speaking on behalf of Human Rights Commission, we have not witnessed any imprisonment of conscience. But, we do not hide the presence of individuals who have been presenting complaints. In this regard, the commission has been exerting efforts to examine reported incidents.
The Ethiopian Herald Sunday Edition, November 17/2019
BY MEHARI BEYENE
