Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Reported by: Shannon Sims
WVEC-TV
Tuesday, the U.S. State Department confirmed a former Norfolk State University professor was convicted of crimes against the Ethiopian government.
Monday, an Ethiopian court convicted Yacob Hailemariam and 38 other defendants of attempting to over throw the government.
“It was tough going to visit him,” said Yacob’s daughter, Seyneie.
It’s been four months since she has seen her father.
“We were shocked. We didn’t expect this. I think we knew there might be opposition. This was the first time democratic elections were being held.”
Hailemariam, a former law professor at NSU in 2005, left the U.S. to run for a seat in parliament in his home country.
He won the election by a landslide as an opposition candidate, but before he could take office, he was arrested and imprisoned ruling government.
Human rights organization Amnesty International has been following his case closely.
“Amnesty International has put pressure on the government of Ethiopia and its allies, like the U.S., to act responsible and insure a fair trail and release these prisoners of conscience,” said Lynn Fredriksson of Amnesty International.
Seyneie is hoping the U.S. government will step in and help free her father.
“Maybe the next administration will be more hopeful, like the American government has not had a strong enough voice in the situation like we expected,” she said.
Hailemariam faces an extreme sentence life in prison or death. Neither option is a promising one for Hailemariam to be reunited with his family in Virginia Beach.
“Of course, when you hear those words my whole body freezes for a moment,” said Seyneie. “It’s not over yet. It doesn’t look good now, but we are certainly hopeful. He wanted to make a difference and hopefully one day that will happen.”
It has been more than a year since Hailmariam was arrested.