WORLD’S LONGEST-DETAINED JOURNALISTS MARK 25 YEARS BEHIND BARS AS GLOBAL COALITION LAUNCHES APPEAL FOR DAWIT ISAAK

For a quarter century, he and his imprisoned colleagues have been held without charge or trial, denied contact with their families, deprived of basic legal protections, and denied basic humanitarian safeguards.

Dawit Isaak is a Swedish citizen and the recipient of the 2024 Edelstam Prize. Since then, the Harald Edelstam Foundation has devoted two years to advocating for his release, together with human rights organizations and other actors around the world.

The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights along with a broad international coalition of human rights groups is urging Swedish and EU officials to take meaningful action on his case while there is still time.

A Test for Europe 

Dawit Isaak’s case is a test of whether Sweden and the European Union are willing and able to protect their citizens when they are subjected to grave human rights violations abroad. For 25 years, that test has gone unanswered.

But it is not too late. 

Global Appeal for Action
For 25 years, Swedish and EU officials responsible for foreign affairs, consular protection, and human rights policy have been unable to secure any meaningful progress in his case. Given the prolonged length of Mr. Isaak’s detention and the severity of the conditions he has been forced to endure, there is no time to lose.

The Coalition is urging Swedish and EU officials to secure without further delay:

• Proof of life;
• Consular access;
• Independent medical care; and
• Dawit Isaak’s immediate release and transfer to Sweden.

The Global Appeal for Action for Dawit Isaak is led by the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights and endorsed by an international coalition of human rights groups, comprised of: Committee to Protect Journalists, Edelstam Foundation, Eritrea Focus, Free Dawit, Global Liberty Alliance, Hostage Aid Worldwide, Human Rights Foundation, Human Rights Solidarity, Pen Eritrea and Reporters Without Borders (Sweden).

Accountability Denied, Families Abandoned
In September 2025, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard publicly requested Dawit Isaak’s immediate and unconditional release on humanitarian grounds. A year later, Eritrean authorities have neither complied with her demand nor provided any meaningful update about Mr. Isaak’s location or physical condition.

So far, no one in the Eritrean regime has been held accountable for the grave violations committed against Mr. Isaak.

Mr. Isaak’s three children, all based in Sweden, have been forced to grow up without their father. Their hope, and the hope of the many others who continue to advocate on his behalf, is that justice, humanity, and compassion will ultimately prevail.

Quotes

“It is unconscionable that Dawit Isaak has spent a quarter century behind bars without charge or trial. His imprisonment is one of the world’s longest-running cases of arbitrary detention of a journalist. Twenty-five years without liberty, due process, or contact with family is not only a failure of justice, but a grave injustice. Time is of the essence. Sweden and the European Union must act with urgency before it is too late.” - Judith Abitan, Executive Director, RWCHR

“During all these long years, Dawit has lost his parents, who died without knowing how he is, and where. His children have grown up without him, and he has become a grandfather without ever having seen his grandchildren. The full responsibility for this inhumane brutality rests heavily on the regime in Asmara.” - Björn Tunbäck, Swedish section of Reporters without Borders.

“Eritrea chairs the UN Human Rights Council’s 2026 Social Forum while Dawit Isaak marks 25 years incommunicado in Eiraeiro. Diplomats shake hands in Geneva and New York; no one can shake Dawit Isaak’s hand. Canada and Sweden should lead a joint demarche: no UN leadership roles for regimes that hold journalists in secret prisons.” - Burak Batuhan Karakus, Executive Director, Human Rights Solidarity

“Twenty-five years is not a milestone to commemorate. It is a failure that demands an answer. Dawit Isaak has spent a quarter century in prison without a trial, without consular access, and without verifiable proof that he is alive. This should be a breaking point, not another anniversary the world marks before turning the page. Eritrea has refused to answer the most basic questions about Dawit’s fate. Sweden and the European Union have had 25 years to press for his freedom. They must now turn their unmet demands into grave consequences. Eritrea must be held accountable for its inhumane actions.” - Nizar Zakka, President, Hostage Aid Worldwide

“Dawit Isaak has spent 25 years in Eritrean detention without charge or trial. His name should not have to be invoked year after year to remind the world of this monumental injustice. Eritrea must finally free Dawit and every journalist still detained, and tell families what happened to those who died or disappeared in custody.  Sweden and the European Union must prioritize these cases by demanding answers, accountability and real consequences for those responsible. A quarter-century after Dawit’s  arrest, his case is not forgotten. It’s an ongoing crime.” - Angela Quintal, Africa Director, Committee to Protect Journalists

“The United States and Sweden should prioritize the release of their nationals held in Eritrea and make it unmistakably clear to the regime: this has to stop.” - Jason I. Poblete, President, Global Liberty Alliance Legal Defense Fund (USA)

“Dawit Isaak's punishment, his perpetual unlawful detention, never charged with a crime, defenseless and deprived of his basic rights without a trial, his de facto status of civil death, is untenable. Sweden and EU must act immediately as they are failing to protect their own citizen in a humanitarian, security, and human rights perspective, and are not fulfilling their obligations under international law. We respectfully ask the authorities of the State of Eritrea to free Dawit Isaak together with other still imprisoned journalists and members of the G-15, a group of senior Eritrean officials who publicly called for democratic reforms in 2001, and in any case, to immediately reveal Dawit Isaak’s whereabouts. Dawit Isaak and his colleagues and their families, victims themselves, have endured unimaginable suffering for 25 years.” - Caroline Edelstam, Co-Founder and President, Edelstam Foundation

Background Information

Dawit Isaak was arrested on September 23, 2001 along with a dozen fellow journalists and numerous government officials who voiced concern over President Afwerki’s failure to introduce democratic reforms.

Since then, he and his imprisoned colleagues have been cut off from the outside world and denied their fundamental rights to due process. Many are feared dead. Those who remain alive continue to endure incommunicado detention under inhumane and secretive conditions.

The last direct contact with Mr. Isaak dates back to 2005. Despite the absence of any clear proof of life since that time, Swedish officials have repeatedly stated that they continue to assume that Dawit Isaak is alive.

Mr. Isaak is among thousands of political prisoners currently held in Eritrea.