News Update :Comedian Meskerm Bekele released

June 5,2011

News Update : De Birhan sources have confirmed that Comedian Meskerm Bekele has been released and has now joined his family members in Addis Abeba. Causes and proceedings of the arrest haven't been made public by any party as of yet.

Comedian Meskerem Bekele

Comedian Meskerm Bekele arrested at Addis Abeba Airport

June 3, 2011

Comedian Meskerem Bekele, has been arrested at the Addis Abeba Airport yesterday (2 June 2011), the Addis Abeba Based, Awramba Times Newspaper reported.The Newspaper was quoted by the Ethiopian Media Forum (http://ethioforum.org/?p=6403) today. The Paper also stated that Meskerem, who lived in the United States of America for over two decades, holds an American citizenship.The comedian traveled to Ethiopia after a successful show and holiday in Sweden ,hoped to visit his families and his country for one week.

''The comedian was intercepted from the airport and taken by the National Information and Security officers of Ethiopia and has not be released so far." Awramba Times reported.

His families have reported his arrest to the American Embassy in Addis Abeba . An official from the Embassy that the paper spoke to stated that they are aware of his arrest but refrained from commenting on the matter.

The Ethiopian government has been labeled the worst when it comes to Freedom of Speech by human rights organisations.

Ethiopia's popular pop singer Tewodros Kassahun has been arrested for over two years in what many called ''a politicked arrest''.

Meskerem, an Information Technology specialist by profession, has joined the list of Ethiopian comedians when he released his first comedy DVD in 2008.

Most of his comedies focus on the life of Ethiopians in America. The following clip called ''Ye New York Emama'' jokes the anecdotal experiences of an Ethiopian mother who went to New York to visit her children.