Eritrea's Secret Prison Cells: 25 Years of Silence

Twenty-five years ago, Eritrean father Petros Solomon was arrested without trial and jailed in a secretive prison cell. His daughter Hanna Petros Solomon, now 35, has spent her entire life searching for answers about her parents' disappearance.

Hanna's story is one of thousands of Eritreans who have been detained since the early 2000s. Many on suspicion of treason or dissent against President Isaias Afewerki's government. The country's human rights record has long been a subject of controversy.

With critics accusing the regime of suppressing opposition and silencing dissent.

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In 2001, 15 high-profile politicians, including Petros Solomon, signed an open letter calling for the implementation of a constitution and national elections. However, their criticism was met with swift repression, and many were detained or forced into exile.

The exact location of Eritrea's secret prison cells is unknown, but human rights groups have confirmed that they exist. According to Amnesty International, at least 10 people are believed to be held in these facilities. This includes the G-15 prisoners who were detained on September 18, 2001.

Hanna Petros Solomon has spent years searching for information about her parents' disappearance. In a recent interview with the BBC, she spoke of the pain and uncertainty that has defined her life since childhood.

"My classmates told me that my father sold out his country." Hanna said, recalling the painful memories of her childhood. "I was hurt."

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The Eritrean government has refused to comment on the whereabouts of the detained prisoners or whether they are alive.

said Ibrahim Sherifo, whose parents were also detained in 2001.

The case of Eritrea's secret prison cells is a stark reminder of the country's troubled history and its ongoing human rights abuses.