Amnesty International has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Daniel Fentaneh, a physician and academic detained by Ethiopian security forces over his alleged role in organizing a healthcare workers’ strike.
In a statement issued on 30 June, the human rights organization expressed “grave concern” over what it described as the arbitrary arrest of Dr. Daniel, a fourth-year obstetrics and gynecology resident at Bahir Dar University and an outspoken voice on public healthcare rights.
Dr. Daniel was detained in Bahir Dar on 23 June at approximately 1:30 p.m., according to the statement. Four days later, he appeared before the Bahir Dar First Instance Court, where authorities accused him of initiating and coordinating a strike among medical professionals. The strike, according to police, was allegedly linked to patient deaths — a claim Amnesty International and other rights groups say lacks transparency and may be politically motivated.
The court documents cited by police claim Dr. Daniel played a central role in “mobilizing medical professionals to participate in a strike that led to loss of lives.” Amnesty, however, views the prosecution as part of a broader crackdown on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Ethiopia.
“This case is emblematic of the growing trend of repression by Ethiopian authorities,” Amnesty International said, warning of the country’s “alarming slide into authoritarianism.”
Dr. Daniel is also the founder of MAC-Ethiopia and is widely known for managing the “Dr. Debol” Facebook page, where he has advocated for better working conditions in the public health sector.
His arrest has sparked widespread outrage among professional organizations and rights groups. On 20 June, the Ethiopian Health Professional Movement (EHPM) issued a statement condemning the detention, calling it a “direct assault on the dignity of the health workforce and a violation of constitutional rights.”
“This is not just an attack on Dr. Daniel,” the EHPM stated. “It is an attack on the fundamental freedoms of expression and association that every Ethiopian citizen is entitled to.”
Human Rights Watch (HRW) echoed similar concerns in a 25 June report, calling on the government to reverse its suspension of a key health professionals’ association and engage meaningfully with healthcare workers’ demands.
“Laetitia Bader,” Deputy Africa Director at HRW, criticized Ethiopian authorities for using repressive tactics instead of addressing health workers’ long-standing grievances around salaries, safety, and working conditions.
The controversy surrounding Dr. Daniel’s detention comes against the backdrop of a nationwide strike by healthcare professionals, which began in May. The strike calls for fair wages and improved working conditions, and has garnered significant public attention.
Last week, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with representatives from the healthcare sector, but his comments during the meeting have raised concern. The Prime Minister reportedly suggested that the doctors’ movement may be politically driven, and claimed some health workers were intentionally damaging equipment to push patients toward private clinics — an allegation many see as an attempt to discredit the movement.
While he acknowledged the sector’s challenges, Prime Minister Abiy maintained that salary increases are currently not feasible, and instead urged health workers to find motivation in the humanitarian value of their work.
Amnesty International concluded its statement by urging the Amhara Region Police Commission to release Dr. Daniel immediately and unconditionally, and called on Ethiopian authorities to respect the rights of health workers to peaceful protest.
