In honor of World Press Freedom Day let us take the time to remember a fearless African woman who is standing up for what she believes in and is being both celebrated and prosecuted for it.

31 year old Ethiopian journalist, Reeyot Alemu, is a 2012 Courage in Journalism Award winner. She was chosen to receive the award which honors women journalists who have shown extraordinary strength of character and integrity while reporting the news under dangerous or difficult circumstances given by the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), because of her exemplary courage and track record.

Prior to her incarceration, she worked as a columnist for independent Ethiopian newspaper, Feteh until her arrest in June 2011. She was held without charge until September of that year, when she was accused of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts and participation in a terrorist organization. The Ethiopian government presented articles she wrote criticizing its actions as evidence at her trial, as well as telephone conversations she had regarding strictly peaceful protests.

Based on these materials alone, a judge sentenced Alemu to 14 years in prison for terrorism. She was not sentenced alone, the Deputy Editor of the now-defunct weekly Awramba Times, Woubshet Taye, and the exiled editor of the Washington-based opposition website Ethiopian Review, Elias Kifle were also convicted according to news reports.

Prior to these events, Alemu was one of her country’s few female reporters who wrote critically about the political climate in Ethiopia, including analysis of government figures. Now, Alemu has fallen ill in prison and her associates suffer harassment because of their connections with her. Despite this, Alemu has rejected offers of clemency in return for information about her colleagues.

Let all good people who want the true stories of what is actually occurring in African countries to continue to be told honestly, join together in celebrating Alemu’s success. We should all evaluate how we can be of service in ensuring her and her comrades’ prompt release.

For articles on their case, click on the links below:

Article 1: http://cpj.org/2012/01/th...n-terrorism-charges-i.php

Article 2: http://www.cpj.org/2011/0...eld-under-anti-terror.php

For how you can assist in their release efforts, visit the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) at www.cpj.org

To sign the petition for her release, click http://www.gopetition.com...-unconditional-relea.html

To read President Obama’s statement on World Freedom Day, visit

http://www.whitehouse.gov...t-world-press-freedom-day

About the IWMF: Founded in 1990, the International Women’s Media Foundation is a vibrant global network dedicated to strengthening the role of women in the news media worldwide as a means to further freedom of the press. The IWMF network includes women and men in the media in more than 130 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.iwmf.org