Eritrean migrants in Israel rally in support of compatriots

Around 150 Eritrean asylum seekers protested outside the Eritrean embassy in Ramat Gan, Israel on Friday morning, in a show of solidarity with Eritrean political prisoners and a group of army officers who staged a failed coup in Asmara last month.

Eritrean migrants protesting, Feb. 1, 2013 Photo: Ben Hartman

The protesters called for the release of political prisoners and shouted for the implementation of the 1997 constitution, the same demands made by a group of Army officers who stormed the state television headquarters at the Ministry of Information in Asmara on January 21st and forced the station off the air, before government forces managed to retake the offices later in the day.
Speaking in English, asylum seeker Isayas Teklebrhan gave a speech calling for “the immediate resignation of dictator Isayas Afwerki, the immediate release of all political prisoners, and the immediate implementation of Eritrea's constitution.”
Eritrea has no free press and is widely-considered one of the most repressive regimes on Earth.
On Friday, Gabriel, an Eritrean asylum seeker living in Israel said the ill-fated coup was a source of inspiration watched closely by Eritreans in Israel and across their Diaspora, and was a turning point for anti-regime efforts.
“This act has inspired Eritreans all over the world. For years we've tried from outside Eritrea to inspire the people there and now they are inspiring us. We think there is for sure a chance that there will be a revolution there soon.”