Freedom Now welcomes the release of Ethiopian opposition politician Christian Tadele from wrongful detention. Tadele had been imprisoned for more than three years after being arrested following his criticism of the Ethiopian government’s treatment of the Amhara people.
Tadele is a prominent member of the National Movement of Amhara (NaMA), an Ethiopian opposition party, and has served in the Ethiopian Parliament since 2021. In the days leading up to his arrest, he publicly criticized the government’s treatment of the Amhara people and called for greater accountability from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
On August 2, 2023, Tadele called on Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to resign during a televised parliamentary speech and criticized the government for alleged extrajudicial killings, displacement, destruction of civilian homes, and other human rights violations against Amhara people. He also published a Facebook post calling on the government to stop its attacks on Amhara people and urging human rights organizations, diplomats, and the media to condemn the violence.
On August 4, 2023, authorities detained Tadele without an arrest warrant, despite the parliamentary immunity he held under Ethiopian law. Tadele was subsequently charged with terrorism and possession of a firearm without a valid license.
Tadele’s pre-trial proceedings were repeatedly postponed, while journalists were barred from attending his hearings. He also faced restrictions on communication with his lawyers, family visits, and access to necessary medical care.
During his detention, Tadele was reportedly subjected to severe physical and psychological mistreatment, inadequate food and water, hazardous detention conditions, ethnic-based abuse, and denial of necessary medical treatment.
On September 10, 2026, Tadele was released as part of a mass pardon of 600 political prisoners on the eve of Ethiopian New Year. His release reaffirms Freedom Now’s commitment to ensuring that no prisoner of conscience is detained for their political beliefs, speech, or peaceful advocacy. Freedom Now will continue to call for the rights of Tadele and all other former political prisoners to be fully respected, including their right to remain free from restrictions, harassment, or retaliation for their political activities or expression.