Human Rights Concern–Eritrea (HRCE) condemns statements made by Ms Mehrawit Mebrahtu Aibu, also known as Monica Mebrahtu and Monicawit Hegdefawit, during a recorded TikTok live broadcast on 31 August 2026.
In the recording, Ms Aibu specifically names Eritrean artist Saron Bereket and pressures her to join an online campaign supporting Senit Habtom, an Eritrean contestant participating in the Miss World 2026 competition in Vietnam.
Speaking in Tigrinya, Ms Aibu tells Ms Bereket:
“Saron Bereket, if you can hear us, you should come. Saron, because the people love you very much, you should be able to come. If you do not come, we will subject you to our online targeting campaign.”
Ms Aibu uses the words “ታሕኩር/ምሕኳር.” In the context of an online programme that HRCE understands she began in 2020, these terms refer to the organised targeting of individuals through online abuse, insults, bullying, intimidation, threats, false accusations and defamatory allegations.
Her statement therefore appears to warn Ms Bereket that she will be subjected to such an online campaign if she does not participate in the campaign supporting the contestant.
Ms Aibu then directs a broader warning towards Eritrean artists and others living in Uganda:
“Those of you who have not come and joined, we see you. We are watching those of you in Uganda who have not joined. We will make you cry. Anyone who does not join this cannot later be regarded as Eritrean.”
These statements are intimidating, threatening, and unacceptable.
Publicly naming a woman, warning that she will be subjected to organised online abuse, declaring that Eritreans in Uganda are being watched, threatening to “make them cry,” and questioning their Eritrean identity because they have not joined a campaign may reasonably cause fear and amount to coercive social pressure.
Every artist and every other individual has the right to decide freely whether to support a contestant, campaign or cause. Participation must be entirely voluntary.
No one should be threatened, monitored, publicly shamed, bullied, falsely accused, defamed or subjected to organised online abuse for declining to participate.
HRCE calls upon Ms Aibu to withdraw these statements publicly and immediately cease naming, threatening or mobilising online campaigns against Saron Bereket, other Eritrean artists and anyone who chooses not to participate.
We urge supporters of the contestant not to intimidate, insult, threaten or attack anyone identified in the recording. Saron Bereket and the other Eritreans targeted must not face online harassment, false accusations, reputational attacks or retaliation.
HRCE is also concerned that this conduct may display features associated with transnational repression: the cross-border monitoring, intimidation and coercion of members of the Eritrean diaspora in order to enforce conformity with a campaign presented as a national obligation.
It is deeply troubling that Ms Aibu, who lives in Norway and reportedly obtained protection there after claiming to have fled persecution in Eritrea, now appears to use the safety and freedom available to her in Norway to intimidate Eritreans living in other countries.
Norway provides an environment in which freedom of expression, freedom of choice and personal security are protected. Those freedoms must not be misused to threaten, coerce, monitor or organise online abuse against members of the Eritrean diaspora.
Her public support for the Eritrean government, combined with her cross-border threats against Eritreans abroad, is deeply concerning.
HRCE does not prejudge whether a criminal offence has been committed. That determination rests with the appropriate Norwegian authorities.
Human Rights Concern–Eritrea (HRCE)
