Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE) raises serious concern regarding a troubling development involving alleged coordinated online harassment within the Eritrean diaspora.
It has come to our attention that Merhawit Mebrahtu Aibu (also known as Monicawit Hegdefawit), an Eritrean government supporter residing in Norway, has reportedly admitted in a recorded video to paying another Eritrean asylum seeker, identified as Afwerki Girmay, who resides in Belgium, to carry out online harassment. The alleged conduct includes targeted insults, dehumanising language, and derogatory remarks, including mockery of disabilities directed at individuals including a human rights activist as well as people from the Seraye region of Eritrea.
This alleged incident does not occur in isolation. Ms Aibu has reportedly been involved over a number of years, engaged in patterns of online behaviour characterised by bullying, false accusations, defamation, and threats directed at members of the Eritrean diaspora and, in some cases, their families. These allegations and concerns have previously been raised with Norwegian authorities.
The reported admission marks a serious escalation, from direct online abuse to the alleged outsourcing of harassment through financial inducement. Such actions raise serious concerns about coordinated and organised intimidation, hate speech, and the safety of targeted individuals within diaspora communities.
HRCE is particularly concerned about:
- The persistence of alleged online bullying, defamation, and threats over an extended period.
- The normalisation of dehumanising language targeting specific Eritrean communities, including the mockery of disabilities.
- The potential use of financial incentives to encourage harassment and abuse.
- The broader implications for safety, dignity, and freedom of expression within diaspora communities.
HRCE calls on the relevant Norwegian authorities to:
- Investigate any potential violations of Norwegian law, including harassment, hate speech, and incitement.
- Assess whether there is a pattern of repeated harmful conduct.
- Ensure appropriate measures are taken to protect individuals targeted by such conduct.
HRCE also urges social media platforms to:
- Enforce their policies against coordinated harassment and hate speech.
- Take appropriate action against accounts involved in abusive or harmful behaviour.
Freedom of expression must never be used as a shield for abuse, intimidation, or the dehumanisation of others. The dignity and safety of all individuals, regardless of their background, region, or beliefs, must be upheld.
HRCE stands in solidarity with all those affected by online harassment and reaffirms its commitment to promoting respect, accountability, and human rights within the Eritrean community and beyond.
Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)
