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CONTRIBUTION IN ORIGINAL LANGUAGE
Write for Rights 2021 - Ciham Ali
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Eritrea, Ciham Ali had big dreams. A fan of Lady Gaga and Green Day, she was determined to become a fashion designer when she…
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Eritrea, Ciham Ali had big dreams. As a fan of Lady Gaga and Green Day, she wanted to become a fashion designer when she was a child. But at 15, her hopes were dashed.
On December 8, 2012, Ciham was arrested on the border with Sudan while trying to flee Eritrea. Her father Ali Abdu, then Foreign Minister under President Isaias Afwerki, went into exile when the military attempted a coup attempt against the government. It was rumored that Ali Abdu supported the coup and that Ciham might have been arrested in retaliation.
Nine years later, no one - not even her family - knows where Ciham is being held. She has not been charged or tried. It's like she's gone. Eritrea is notorious for locking people in underground containers where they are exposed to extreme cold and heat. There are reports of many people dying in these prisons from torture, starvation, infection, and other appalling treatments. While other kids her age may have gone to college, Ciham has suffered unknown horrors.
Despite being a US citizen, Ciham has been ignored by the US government. So far they have remained silent about their plight, even though they have the power to influence Eritrea.
Tell the US to stand up for Ciham.
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