By Merga Yonas (Ethiopian Reporter)

The lawyer of twenty-nine Muslim defendants, who are in prison on charges of terrorism, is to sue the Ethiopian government and Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA), following the latter's broadcast of a documentary portraying the defendants as terrorists. After a week of public announcement, ERTA aired a documentary titled “Jihadawi Harekat” (Jihadic Movement) on Tuesday. The documentary was produced by the National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS) and the Federal Police in collaboration with ERTA.

Though the government of Ethiopia claims that it has ample evidence demonstrations the defendants' involvement in terror acts, which the documentary attempted to show, part of the public are unconvinced by the content of the documentary.

The lawyer of the defendants, Temama Ababulgu, told The Reporter that the documentary was banned from airing by the Fourth Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court. However, ERTA disregarded the injunction.

He went on to say that though the Ethiopian government is duty bound to protect the rights of citizen, it has inflicted a moral damage on the defendants, their families and the general public.

Temam added that since the documentary run despite a court order, he will sue the Ethiopian government, namely the NISS and Federal Police, as well as ERTA.
The defendants were charged with terrorism offenses in October of last year. Nine members of a 17-person committee was formed to seek a solution to the grievance sparked by the Al Ahbash controversy. The were charged under the 2009 anti-terrorism law.

Since their arrest, part of the Ethiopian Muslim community in Ethiopia has been holding protests at mosques calling for their release.

The government accuses the group of being led by extremists who want to convert the secular nation into an Islamic state.