Dawit Isaak, a journalist with dual Eritrean-Swedish citizenship who has been held in Eritrean prison without trial since 2001, has been awarded the Edelstam Prize in recognition of his “exceptional courage” in advocating for freedom of expression. The Edelstam Foundation, which bestows the prestigious human rights prize, announced that Isaak was selected for his unwavering commitment to press freedom despite enduring years of detention under severe conditions.
Dawit, one of the founders of Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper, was detained in September 2001 following a crackdown on private media by the Eritrean government. Setit had published letters urging democratic reform, which the government labeled a threat to national security. Alongside Isaak, approximately two dozen individuals, including senior government officials and other journalists, were arrested in a sweeping purge targeting dissenters. The Eritrean government has since provided no information regarding Isaak’s health or whereabouts, and many of those detained at that time are believed to have died in custody.
The Edelstam Foundation issued a statement urging Eritrea to release Isaak and called on authorities to disclose his location and grant him access to legal representation. Caroline Edelstam, chair of the Edelstam Prize jury, described Isaak’s prolonged detention as an “enforced disappearance,” noting that he has been denied contact with his family, consular support, and the right to legal counsel.
“Dawit Isaak’s indefatigable courage stands as a testament to the principle of freedom of expression,” Edelstam stated, adding that he is currently the longest-detained journalist in the world. Isaak’s daughter, Betlehem Isaak, is expected to accept the award on his behalf during a ceremony on November 19 in Stockholm.
The Edelstam Prize, established in honor of Swedish diplomat Harald Edelstam, celebrates individuals who demonstrate outstanding bravery in the defense of human rights. The foundation’s statement emphasized the need for international pressure on Eritrea to secure Isaak’s release and called for broader advocacy for human rights reforms in the country.
Eritrea, where the government eliminated private media under a national security directive in 2001, remains the only African nation without independent press outlets. President Isaias Afwerki, in power since the country’s independence in 1993, has ruled for over three decades without elections, maintaining strict control over political expression and freedom of the press. Isaak, who became a Swedish citizen in the late 1980s after fleeing Eritrea’s war for independence, returned after Eritrea’s independence to contribute to the nascent nation’s independent press—a decision that ultimately led to his prolonged imprisonment.
The Edelstam Foundation joins international organizations and human rights advocates in calling for Isaak’s immediate release and for the Eritrean government to uphold fundamental freedoms within its borders.