The verdict in the trial against Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega and other 22 people charged with terrorism, which was expected to be delivered yesterday, has been postponed to June 27. On Thursday, the Ethiopian Federal High Court announced that it was delaying the delivering of the verdict, in order to give the judges time to “evaluate and pass a decision”, lawyer Abebe Guta reportedly said.

This is the second time that a verdict in Nega’s case has been delayed. It was originally set to be delivered in May 2012, but was postponed, as the defendants’ case had not been transcribed in full, AFP reported.

The arrest of Nega, who was detained in September 2011 on charges of supporting terrorism, has been globally condemned, not least because Nega could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted. Senator Patrick Leahy was the third member of the United States Congress to voice concern for Nega. In a statement published on June 14, he wrote: “[T]he importance of respecting freedom of the press cannot be overstated. What happens to Eskinder Nega and other journalists there will resonate loudly not only in Ethiopia, but also in the United States Congress.”

IPI has repeatedly called for the release of Nega and several other Ethiopian journalists convicted half a year ago under the broad 2009 Anti-Terrorism Proclamation. Among them are: Woubshet Taye, deputy editor of the now-defunct Awramba Times; Reyot Alemu of Feteh newspaper; and Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson, who were sentenced to 14 years and 11 years in prison respectively for “aiding terrorists” after they were arrested while travelling with insurgents in Ethiopia’s Ogaden region.