Sweden concerned over jailed Eritrean reporter

Swedish FlagStockholm- The Swedish Foreign Ministry expressed "concern" Wedneday over reports that a jailed Swedish-Eritrean journalist has been hospitalized.

"This is a serious humanitarian case," Swedish State Secretary Frank Belfrage told Swedish radio news.

Belfrage said the foreign ministry has not been able to confirm reports suggesting that journalist Dawit Isaak's health had "deteroriated" or that "he had had been moved from one prison to another with perhaps worse conditions."

Efforts were being made to clarify matters, he said.

The group Eritrea Watch for Human Rights and Democracy, in a report released Wednesday, said that Isaak was transferred last month to a hospital, according to a Swedish-based group seeking his release.

Isaak was jailed in September 2001 in the Eritrean capital Asmara, and, despite numerous petitions, has remained in prison. The Eritrean government has never filed formal charges against Isaak.

He became a Swedish citizen in 1992 after seeking asylum in 1987. Isaak lived in the west coast city of Gothenburg until 2000 when he returned to Eritrea to work for the independent weekly Setit.

In March 2007, he was awarded a newly created freedom of speech prize by the Swedish Association of Publicists, but was unable to attend the award ceremony in Stockholm.

His wife and three children, who remained in Sweden, accepted it on his behalf.

Human rights advocacy groups like Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders and the Swedish Journalists' Union have also campaigned for Isaak's release. (dpa)

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