Eritrean Olympic Cyclist Freed After 18-Year Detention Without Trial

Eritrean authorities have released 13 political prisoners, including a former Olympic athlete, after detaining them for 18 years without charge or trial. Relatives of the freed individuals confirmed the news to the BBC. The group includes former cyclist Zeragaber Gebrehiwot, who competed for Ethiopia at the 1980 Moscow Olympics before Eritrea gained independence. Officials held him and the others in a maximum-security prison known for its harsh conditions. The releases occurred in recent weeks, but Eritrea's government has not made an official announcement. The prisoners' families say they still do not know the original reasons for the arrests in 2006. Human rights groups routinely accuse Eritrea of arbitrary detention. The UN has reported that thousands of people remain imprisoned in the country for their political views.