{{Nine Ethiopian journalists and bloggers held in detention since April have been charged with terrorism by a court in the capital, Addis Ababa.}}<\/p>\n
They deny receiving financial aid and instructions from terrorists groups to destabilise the country.<\/p>\n
New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the government was trying to stifle opposition and media freedom in the country.<\/p>\n
They all belonged to the social media activist group Zone 9.<\/p>\n
Correspondents say Ethiopia has increasingly faced criticism from donors and human rights groups for jailing its critics – many of whom have sought asylum abroad in fear of being arrested and tortured in jail.<\/p>\n
The three journalists and six bloggers have become known as the Zone 9 bloggers.<\/p>\n
They are accused of working in collusion with the banned US-based opposition group Ginbot 7.<\/p>\n
“They took training in how to make explosives and planned to train others,” the media.<\/p>\n
The CPJ called on the authorities for the group’s immediate release, saying they had been doing their jobs.<\/p>\n
“Expressing critical views is not a terrorist act. Once again, the Ethiopian government is misusing anti-terrorism legislation to suppress political dissent and intimidate journalists,” Tom Rhodes, CPJ’s East Africa representative, said in a statement.<\/p>\n
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