We, the undersigned, call for urgent international attention to the widespread and recurring arbitrary detention of civilians, journalists, and political figures across Ethiopia, with particularly large-scale arrests reported in the Amhara region.

 Reporting by organisations such as Amnesty International has documented repeated waves of mass arrests, prolonged detention without charge, and restricted access to legal protections. A significant proportion of those detained are ethnic Amharas, raising serious concerns about patterns of ethnically targeted enforcement.

 These are not isolated incidents, but part of an ongoing pattern that reflects a deepening erosion of the rule of law and fundamental human rights.

Despite continued reporting and appeals, the lack of effective intervention has allowed these practices to persist and intensify, increasing the risk of further harm to detainees.

THE EVIDENCE OF ABUSE:

The following patterns have been documented:

Judicial Non-Compliance
Reports indicate a recurring pattern in which court-ordered releases are not enforced, with detainees reportedly re-arrested or kept in custody despite bail decisions.

Targeting of Journalists
Journalists, many of them Amhara, have been repeatedly detained for reporting on security operations, violence, and humanitarian conditions, demonstrating a pattern of restrictions on press freedom.

Mass Arbitrary Detention
Thousands of individuals across Ethiopia, many of them ethnic Amharas, have reportedly been detained in repeated waves under emergency measures, often without formal charges, in locations including military facilities and unofficial detention sites.

Due Process Violations
Detainees have consistently faced limited access to legal counsel, family members, and medical care, in some cases while being held in undisclosed or non-formal detention sites.

Urgent Risk at Aba Samuel Maximum Security Prison

According to recent reports from advocacy sources, detainees of Amhara descent transferred from Kaliti Prison (Qilinto)to Aba Samuel Maximum Security Prison are being held in conditions that pose a serious and immediate risk to their health and survival.

These reports describe:

• denial of access to clean water and adequate food
• lack of medical care
• continued detention of individuals whose legal cases have not been concluded
  restrictions preventing detainees from purchasing food with their own resources

These conditions highlight the urgent humanitarian consequences of continued inaction.

OUR DEMANDS

End Arbitrary Detention
Immediately release all individuals arbitrarily detained, or bring credible charges supported by evidence in accordance with due process and international human rights standards.

Respect for Judicial Authority
Ensure that all court decisions, including bail and release orders, are fully implemented by all branches of government and security forces.

Independent Monitoring
Grant full and unhindered access to all detention facilities for the International Committee of the Red Cross and UN human rights observers, including facilities such as Aba Samuel Maximum Security Prison.

Urgent Humanitarian Protection
Ensure immediate access to food, clean water, and medical care for all detainees, particularly those held in high-risk conditions.

Accountability and Transparency
Conduct independent investigations into recurring patterns of arbitrary detention, prison conditions, and ethnically targeted enforcement, and ensure accountability for violations of human rights.