CHICAGO (ELCA) Zawditu Deressa, an Ethiopian nurse, was freed from prison on bond April 19 after spending more than a year in prison for allegedly providing medical treatment in 1996 to two patients who may have been supporters of a party opposed to the Ethiopian government.
Zawditu Deressa was one of three people ordered freed on bail by an Ethiopian judge at a hearing April 15. The others included a physician, Dr. Gezaw Irena, and a nurse's aide, said Zawditu's sister, Belletech Deressa, director for international development and disaster response, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Division for Global Mission, Chicago.
"We couldn't even talk very much," said Belletech Deressa when she spoke to her sister by telephone after her release. "We were both crying." Zawditu Deressa appears to be in good spirits and good health, Belletech Deressa said.
The prosecutor could not produce evidence to keep Zawditu Deressa in prison, except that she may have provided medical treatment to supporters of the opposition party, said Belletech Deressa. On that basis, the judge could find no evidence of a crime and ordered Zawditu freed on bail, Belletech said.
Zawditu's release followed an extensive letter-writing campaign by people throughout the ELCA and in other church denominations. Church World Service, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and Heifer Project International also helped communicate news of Zawditu's plight, Belletech said.
"I am sure the letters you sent to Ethiopian authorities contributed to Zawditu's release as well as the release of her co-workers,"= Belletech Deressa said in a message to people following the case. "They could have faced death sentences or years of imprisonment if not for the vigorous letters written on their behalf by many Christian sisters and brothers around the world."
Zawditu "conveyed her deep appreciation" to everyone who spoke up on her behalf, said Belletech following her phone conversation with her sister.
"The judge ordered that Zawditu continue to appear in court for hearings," Belletech said. "We are aware that it will take many years for the court to make final decisions."
Zawditu is the mother of six children and has served as a nurse in a government hospital for 29 years. It is not clear whether she will return to work immediately, Belletech said.
The letter-writing campaign to free Zawditu Deressa was directed at Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia's Chief Justice Kemal Bedri, Ambassador to the United States Berhane Gebre-Christos and Minister of Justice Werede-Wold Wolde. Letter writers were encouraged to call for the unconditional and immediate release of prisoners who have not advocated or used violence.
Zawditu and her co-workers were among 65 people detained. It appears most of the others remain jailed, awaiting word on their fate from the courts, Belletech said.
There are four Deressa sisters, including Zawditu and Belletech; Worknesh Deressa, who also works in the Division for Global Mission in Chicago; and Addis Alem, a sister who is a refugee in Great Britain.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
- - -
About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
