By The sentencing of a man convicted of raping and murdering a 7-year-old girl has sparked widespread outrage in Ethiopia, with many calling the punishment too lenient.
Getnet Baye was sentenced last week to 25 years in prison for the rape and murder of Heaven Awot in August 2023 in Bahir Dar, a city in Ethiopia’s northwestern Amhara region. Baye, who was the landlord of the victim’s mother, is appealing the sentence. The case is adjourned until October.
More than 200,000 people have signed an online petition demanding a review of the sentencing “to reflect the gravity of the crime” and to offer support for the grieving mother, Abekyelesh Adeba.
“I have lost my Heaven… I am lifeless,” Adeba told the BBC in an interview. She expressed concern about the possibility of Baye winning his appeal and getting an early release.
The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA), a prominent women’s rights advocacy group, released a statement criticizing the sentence as “very light,” arguing that “the murder by itself should have been enough to sentence him to life imprisonment or to death.”
Senior government officials have joined the criticism. Ergogie Tesfaye, Minister for Women and Social Affairs, wrote on her Facebook page that the crimes committed against Heaven were “inhumane” and said her office would pursue the case with stakeholders.
The case has ignited discussions about the safety of women and girls in Ethiopia. A Human Rights Watch report released in May stated that conflict-related sexual violence “has reached alarming levels in Ethiopia.”
Heaven’s murder occurred against the backdrop of Ethiopia’s recent civil conflict. Her father, an ethnic Tigrayan, was imprisoned for months during the war without being charged. After his release, he left Amhara for Tigray due to perceived hostility.
Adeba, a nurse, was left to raise Heaven and her younger sister alone. She told the BBC she never felt any threat from Baye, who lived in the same compound and was related to his wife.
The attack occurred while Adeba was at work and Heaven’s aunt was babysitting. Heaven’s mutilated body was later found in front of her home with signs of strangulation.
In the months following the murder, Adeba faced additional challenges. Baye escaped custody during a militia attack on the police station where he was held. He remained at large for nearly a month, during which time he threatened Adeba, forcing her into hiding.
Adeba has since moved homes and jobs repeatedly, citing concerns for her safety and that of her surviving daughter.
As a health worker, Adeba says she knows of many more women and girls who have been sexually assaulted. “I know there are so many Heavens,” she told the BBC.
The case continues to draw attention to issues of sexual violence and judicial responses in Ethiopia, with many calling for stricter sentences and better protection for vulnerable populations.
A bbc story
