From Eritrean Judge to Swiss Refugee: A Story of Democracy and Dictatorship

Former Eritrean high court judge Habteab Yemane shares his journey from provisional justice to seeking refuge in Switzerland.

Habteab Yemane served as a high court judge in Eritrea for 16 years without ever taking an oath of office.
Eritrea's 1997 constitution has never been implemented.
All judges in Eritrea are classified as 'provisional'.
Yemane co-founded a newspaper that reached a circulation of 40,000 copies.
The entire editorial team of Yemane's newspaper was arrested in September 2001.

16 years

Duration of service

40,000

Newspaper circulation

Elections voted in

2 million

Population

"These are sound articles. But unfortunately, they bear no relation to reality."
— Habteab Yemane

"Criminal law, constitutional law, and human rights are fundamental rights that the government can’t take away from you."
— Habteab Yemane

Justice in Limbo: The Judge Who Never Took an Oath

Habteab Yemane served as a high court judge in Eritrea for 16 years without ever taking an oath of office.
Eritrea's 1997 constitution has never been implemented.
All judges in Eritrea are classified as 'provisional'.
Yemane co-founded a newspaper that reached a circulation of 40,000 copies.
The entire editorial team of Yemane's newspaper was arrested in September 2001.