Why an Ethiopian-Born British Citizen Ran in the UK’s General Election · Global Voices
<PERSON>, a kidnapped democracy campaigner facing execution in Ethiopia. Image snapshotted from YouTube video uploaded on the Reprieve YouTube channel.
<PERSON> a British woman of Ethiopian descent ran against <PERSON> as a fringe candidate in the UK’s parliamentary election, in order to bring to public attention the plight of her husband <PERSON>.
<PERSON> is an Ethiopian-born British citizen who had been living in London with his wife and three children for over four decades. He was kidnapped by Ethiopian security officials in transit.
On June 23, 2014, <PERSON>’s flight arrived in Yemen at Sana’a airport, where he was supposed to catch his connecting flight to Asmara, Eritrea’s capital. Yemeni authorities detained <PERSON> and extradited him to Ethiopia where he faces a death sentence based on his conviction for plotting to overthrow the regime in 2009.
<PERSON> with his family. Picture Credit Reprieve
<PERSON> ran as independent candidate in May's constituency. She received few votes but her campaign was an effective one in that she was able to put her cause to the Prime MInister directly.
Proud of <PERSON>, the wife of <PERSON> who made it all the way to #Maidenhead to meet @theresa_may & demand for @FreeAndargachew pic.twitter.com/AfZjouPoAD
— <PERSON> (@bekelewoyecha) June 10, 2017
On the election night <PERSON> wore a t-shirt with ‘Free <PERSON>’ printed on it and shook hands with <PERSON>.
The candidates's huddle. Two in red; one happy, one not. 23
If @theresa_may tried to #FreeAndyTsege she might feel better about herself #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/hD37GSGk8m
— <PERSON> (@MacInnesJoanne) June 9, 2017
On Facebook <PERSON>, an executive director of the diaspora-run satellite television channel ESAT wrote:
The winner is <PERSON>! I was watching the results of British elections live on BBC. Despite the self-inflicted pains, British PM <PERSON> kept her Maidenhead seat, which she has held since 1997. But that wasn't the interesting part I watched on the screen.
There were a number of candidates who crowded the screen along with the PM. But for me it was a vibrant and creative woman wearing a t-shirt with a message: “Free <PERSON>”, who stood out as the winner. <PERSON> decided to run against <PERSON> not to unseat her. But she wanted to draw attention to the hypocracy that the British PM and her government ignored the plight of <PERSON>, a naturalized British citizen and the father of her three kids.
<PERSON> not only got some votes but also a national platform to raise awareness on the suffering of a freedom fighter illegally kidnapped, renditioned to Ethiopia and still languishing in jail.
<PERSON>, along with her three children has been running a campaign to be reunited with <PERSON> since the summer of 2014.
<PERSON>, who is part of the diverse diaspora-based opposition to the Ethiopian regime has been blamed by the government for fuelling recent anti-government protests in his homeland. He was part of the Ginbot 7 opposition group.
Since October 2016, Ethiopia has been under a state of emergency as anti-government sentiment rises. In the crackdown that has followed, a number of opposition leaders have either fled the country or been imprisoned. 23