{"id":19154,"date":"2021-05-17T08:26:07","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T08:26:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reprieve.org\/uk\/?p=19154"},"modified":"2021-12-06T08:42:39","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T08:42:39","slug":"andy-is-alive-because-of-this-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reprieve.org\/uk\/2021\/05\/17\/andy-is-alive-because-of-this-community\/","title":{"rendered":"My kids’ dad Andy is alive because of this community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My kids’ dad, Andy Tsege, is alive and free today because of the Reprieve community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long before I met him\u2014in the 1970s\u2014Andy had to flee Ethiopia. He was granted asylum in the UK in 1979. He studied in London, worked as a cab driver and we started our family in Islington. He eventually became a British citizen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Image
Yemi and Andy at Heathrow Airport, May 2018
Image source: Matthew Leidecker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He was a British citizen when he was unlawfully sentenced to death in absentia by the Ethiopian Government. He had been calling for a more democratic Ethiopia and criticised that government for failing to allow its citizens their demoratic rights. Before the government\u2019s so-called \u2018trial\u2019, Andy testified in front of the US Congress and the European Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was a global figure in the fight for democracy in Ethiopia. And that made him a target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andy’s \u2018trial\u2019 was part of a widely criticised crackdown on political opponents and activists in Ethiopia. The death penalty is often used as a political tool by repressive regimes to stifle the opposition and prevent civil unrest. His right to due process was denied. Ethiopia has a law which calls criticism of the Government \u201cterrorism,\u201d and this is used to silence political opponents like Andy as well as journalists. The Ethiopian Government used that law to justify Andy\u2019s detention. The UK Government noted at the time that there was no evidence against Andy which would stand up in a British court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The actual charges against him were changed multiple times throughout his \u2018trial\u2019, which took place in Ethiopia while Andy was at home with our family in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andy was then kidnapped at an international airport in June 2014\u2014after he had already been sentenced to death. He was hooded, bound and illegally transported to Ethiopia where he was locked up on death row. For many weeks, I didn\u2019t know where Andy was being held. Or if he was even alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Image
Yemi and Andy’s children waiting for their dad at Heathrow airport in London, May 2018
Image source: Matthew Leidecker<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But together, thousands of us spoke out for Andy\u2014and pushed British leaders to do the same. That pressure is why Andy is alive and back home with our family today. Four years into our campaign\u2014in May 2018\u2014Andy was pardoned by the Ethiopian Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That wouldn\u2019t have happened without this community, so thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Andy\u2019s story isn\u2019t unique. Reprieve investigators, lawyers and campaigners fight for people just like Andy all over the world. You can take action on their campaigns here<\/a>. This community saves lives like Andy\u2019s every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, we are all part of each of those stories. Thank you. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My kids’ dad, Andy Tsege, is alive and free today because of the Reprieve community. Long before I met him\u2014in the 1970s\u2014Andy had to flee Ethiopia. He was granted asylum in the UK in 1979. He studied in London, worked as a cab driver and we started our family in Islington. 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