Toronto-based Ethiopian-Canadian lawyer Teklemichael Abebe Sahlemariam visited Ethiopia from February 13-24, 2025. He visited journalist Meskerem Abera in Kality Prison and observed the trial of 51 defendants in the Dr. Wondwossen Assefa case at the Lideta Federal High Court. He commended the defense lawyers’ efforts under difficult conditions and initiated support fund for the lawyers:
“Article 20(5) of the Ethiopian Constitution guarantees defendants the right to legal representation by lawyers of their choice. If they cannot afford one, the state is obligated to provide a lawyer. Competent legal representation is a fundamental prerequisite for ensuring justice and fairness. However, in Ethiopia, there is a lack of institutional
independence, trust, established practices, and a supportive culture for political prisoners to access state-appointed legal counsel.
“Therefore, we commend the lawyers representing Meskerem Abera and others for their dedication and the services they provide, often with extremely limited resources and effectively pro bono. To support their diligent efforts, express our appreciation, alleviate their burden, and enable them to effectively scrutinize the justice system; while also aiming to contribute to the development of a strong bar association and a robust advocacy culture, we have concluded our 15-day fundraising campaign for legal defense fund for Ethiopian political prisoners. Through this campaign, we raised 350,000 Birr from the law offices of Mr. Teklemichael Abebe and Mr. Daniel Tilahun, and an additional 650,000 Birr from 40 other donors, totaling 1 million Birr. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to this initiative and express our confidence that you will continue to support our future endeavors.”
The Ethiopian Political Prisoners’ Legal Defense Fund (Toronto)
