She is at the notorious Kaliti prison in a solitary confinement. According to the US Department’s Human Right Report, she was jailed, “for accurately telling European media organization that she had not requested from the government a pardon” for her release from prison in 2007. Amnesty International also has stated that Ms Birtukan Mideksa is a political prisoner.

Ms Birtukan Mideksa is a former judge and a single mother of a four years old daughter. She has been an ardent advocate of a peaceful democratic struggle for good governance and for the respect of human rights in Ethiopia. She was a Vice Chairperson of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) party until she was imprisoned for two years after the 2005 disputed national elections in Ethiopia. We, members of the Ethiopian Women for Peace and Development, appeal to

• the international community to pressure the Ethiopian government to release Ms Birtukan Mideksa;

• President Obama’s administration to urge the Ethiopian government for the immediate and unconditional release of Ms Birtukan Medeksa and all other political prisoners; and

• all Peace-loving Americans to call their congressional representatives and to question the US foreign policy toward Ethiopia.

This web blog is dedicated to harness international voices by lighting up vigil candles to express our encouragement and appreciation of her struggle. Commemorate the sacrifice of her life and the life of her daughter Hale to bring about political change in Ethiopia in a peaceful struggle. We invite every one to light a candle and light it up!
REQUEST A CANDLE HERE~