Christian Tadele

Christian Tadele is a prominent member of the National Movement of Amhara, which is a prominent Ethiopian opposition party that formed to represent the political interests of the Amhara minority ethnic group in Ethiopia. Tadele has held a seat in Ethiopian Parliament since 2021, and he has been a prominent voice highlighting the government’s discriminatory treatment of the Amhara people. During the Ethiopian government’s violent crackdown on the Amhara region of Ethiopia, Tadele publicly criticized the government’s use of force.

On August 4, 2023, Tadele was arrested and charged with terrorism and possession of a firearm without license. The arrest came two days after he delivered a speech on the floor of parliament criticizing Prime Minister Ahmed and one day after he published a viral Facebook post calling on Ahmed to step down. Tadele’s trial has been repeatedly postponed, and thus far, all pre-trial hearings on the case have been closed to journalists.

Tadele’s imprisonment comes amidst a widespread crackdown on political opposition in Ethiopia. Several international organizations have called for his release, including both Amnesty and HRW.