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The family of Reuters photographer Komira Jimicho said he was arrested by Ethiopian authorities in the capital Addis Ababa on Thursday and he will remain in detention for at least two weeks.
The authorities have not charged him.
The family was not informed of the reason for the arrest, and the police did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Coomera, 40, has worked for Reuters with the piece system for 10 years.
The family said a judge had ordered Coomera to be detained for another 14 days to give the police time to investigate, at a short court session on Friday that no defense attorney attended.
Reuters, in a statement today, Monday, strongly condemned Coomera’s detention. His arrest came after two Ethiopian Federal Police officers beat a Nigerian photographer, Reuters Texa, on December 16th.
Reuters Editor in Chief Stephen J. Adler said in a statement, “Coomera from the Reuters team that reports from Ethiopia is characterized by integrity, independence and impartiality. Coomera’s work shows his professionalism and impartiality, and we know there is no basis for his arrest.”
“Journalists should be allowed to report news for the sake of the public good without fear of harassment or harm wherever they are. We will not rest until Komera is released,” he added.
His wife, Howie Desalegn, said that about a dozen armed Federal Police officers arrived at Coomera’s home in Addis Ababa on Thursday evening and took him handcuffed in front of her and his three children. She added that his eldest daughter, who is 10 years old, held onto him as she screamed while being led away.
The family said that the police confiscated a camera phone, computer, flash memory and papers.
