They said:
“We blog because we care!”
There was a need of an alternative voice in Ethiopia. The Zone 9 Bloggers decided to blog and use social media to spread awareness about human rights violations. They chose to call them self “Zone 9”, a word referring to the zones of the notorious Kality prison, where political prisoners and journalists are being held. The prison has eight zones, but the ninth “zone” refers to the rest of Ethiopia. Even if being outside of the prison walls – you are never truly free. The bloggers wanted to be the voice of this ninth zone.
The group had campaigns about respecting the constitution, stopping censorship and respecting the right to demonstrate. Despite the fact that what the group did was constitutional, the government labeled it a crime. Six of the bloggers, together with three journalists, were arrested in April 2014. The bloggers and journalists faces terrorism charges and are now in the prisons of Kality and Kilinto.
This blog contains the most current information about advocacy efforts, press coverage, and the legal status of the Zone9 bloggers in Ethiopia. It is dedicated to report on the trials of the innocent bloggers and journalists. The blog also publishes letters from prison, photos, charge sheets, and more.
Now we will care for them!
Endalk Chala & Melody Sundberg
Follow us on Twitter: @zone9ers
Follow us on Instagram: @freezone9bloggers
Subscribe to our Youtube channel: FreeZone9Bloggers
Follow hashtag #FreeZone9Bloggers on Twitter
