We the undersigned appeal to you on behalf of Aster Yohannes, a Prisoner of Conscience for nearly 20 years.

In 2001, Aster was attending graduate school at the University of Arizona in Phoenix. On September 18, her husband, Petros Solomon was arrested for co-signing an open letter to the President of Eritrea criticizing the slow progress to democracy. Realizing the risk of returning, Aster waited.In 2003 she decided she needed to be reunited with her four children. She returned to Eritrea and was arrested as she stepped off the airplane. Aster is being held incommunicado in the capital Asmara, without charge, trial, or official explanation. She has not been able to see her children since her arrest. She is reportedly in relatively good health as of July 2015. Aster is believed to be held as a consequence of her husband's peaceful expression of his political beliefs.

We respectfully appeal for:

• Confirmation by the authorities of Aster's location;
• Aster to be granted access to her family, lawyers and adequate medical treatment;
• Immediate and unconditional release unless she is charged with a recognizably criminal offense; and
• If she is charged, that she be given access to a fair trial and judicial process.