Visually Impaired Student Assaulted by Ethiopian Government Forces in Gondar City
On the afternoon of August 22, forces affiliated with the Prosperity Party regime physically assaulted a visually impaired law student in Gondar City, located in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region. The brutal attack left him with severe injuries and rendered him unable to walk. To protect his privacy, the victim’s identity is being withheld. He has bravely shared his harrowing experience through a rare video interview.
According to the victim, more than eight members of militias and riot control forces approached him, instructing him to come over for a discussion. As he complied, they began assaulting him with blunt and rubber weapons, striking him in the mouth and dragging him along the street. During the attack, they taunted him with statements such as “Let Fano save you now” and accused him of being a “spokesperson for Fano.”
The injuries were severe: he was struck near his neck, teeth, and legs. His teeth were bleeding, and he had a wound on his head. His leg was badly swollen, and he has been unable to move since the attack, requiring assistance even for basic needs like using the bathroom.
The victim is unclear why he was accused of involvement with ‘Fano.’ After being approached by military and riot officers, he had commented on the Fano resistance, noting its advancement from the Belessa area and suggesting that state militias were exacerbating the problems. Although he acknowledged that the militias were problematic, he also pointed out their limited resources.
Following the assault, he was left on the street near Debre Birhan Selassie, at risk of being attacked by hyenas or run over by vehicles. He was eventually discovered and taken away by passersby. Disoriented and injured, he found himself on the road near Debre Birhan Selassie, unaware of his exact location. During the assault, he was insulted and dragged for about 10 minutes, being referred to as a “dead dog.”
Despite the ordeal, he strongly believes that divine intervention played a role in his survival.
Transcript of Interview:
Ok – on the afternoon of August 22 (Nehase 16) there were more than 8 members of the militias and riot dispursal forces.
They told me to come to them as they wanted to speak with me.
As I went with them speaking to them they began striking me with a blunt weapon and rubber one.
They struck me by my teeth, they dragged me like a dog along the streets saying “let Fano save you now.”
They said “you are a spokesperson for Fano.”
All relevant observers and the international community should condemn this Satanic ideology or this group.
I am asking that they act on this.
What kind of bodily injuries did they cause on you?
They struck me near my neck and my teeth and in the lower part of my body on my legs.
They caused me great pain all of my teeth are bleeding.
I also have a wound on my head.
My leg is also badly swollen.
And I haven’t been able to move since Thursday (August 22nd).
I even need assistance to use the washroom.
I haven’t been able to move at all.
It is evident that you are visually impaired so how could they leverage such an accusation against you?
I have been confused about this myself.
One of them asked me saying he was a Fano member.
– What did he ask you?
– He said he was a Fano member.
Then he asked me what I thought of the Fano resistance.
I said I think they are approaching on the Belessa side.
He said it was the [state] militias that were us causing problems.
I said you are right it the militias but what can they do without barley to eat.
Then he blamed the riot dispursal forces and I agreed as we talked.
Then after a while they begin taking turns striking me like I was a ball.
Did you break anything or sustain any other injuries on your leg?
I can’t move for the time being so I am instructed to lie down.
I haven’t been able to move around, moving is very difficult for me.
It won’t let me move, it is very difficult for me to even stand.
And this is my current state.
Afterwards they left me on the asphalt near Debre Birhan Selassie.
They left me there so I would either be eaten by hyenas or run over by some motorized vehicle.
After a long period I was seen by people and taken away.
As it is known you are a university student but after they beat you where did you find yourself?
It was near Debre Birhan Selassie – on the road.
– At the time you didn’t know where you were?
– Yes I didn’t know at all where I was.
I didn’t know where I was as they beat me and insulted me calling me a dead dog.
They grabbed me by my legs and dragged me on the asphalt as they insulted me.
They dragged me along over a distance of about 10 minutes.
But God is good and must have decided it was enough.
EAR- Editorial Note
This breaking story is sourced from :
- International Association of People’s Lawyers (https://defendlawyers.wordpress.com/2024/08/28/ethiopia-blind-law-student-attacked-by-prosperity-party-regime-forces-in-gonder-city/)
- https://www.amharaamerica.org/post/blind-student-attacked-by-prosperity-party-regime-forces-in-gonder-city
