Mahlet Fantahun

Fantahun is one of the Zone 9 Bloggers, a group formed in 2012 to publish political commentary online in the face of tightening restrictions on expression. He was acquitted of all criminal charges following his arrest in 2014, after being detained with fellow bloggers. The group’s arrest sparked international condemnation and raised awareness about Ethiopia’s suppression of digital activists and independent journalism. Fantahun’s continued advocacy has made him a recognized voice in the fight for press freedom.