Dawit Isaak
Dawit Isaak | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 October 1964 Asmara, Eritrea Province, Ethiopia |
| Occupation | Playwright, journalist and writer |
| Citizenship | Eritrean, Swedish |
| Notable works | Hope |
| Notable awards | Norwegian Freedom of Expression Prize (2009) |
| Children | Betlehem Isaak, Danait Isaak, Yorun Isaak |
Dawit Isaak (born 28 October 1964) is a Swedish-Eritrean playwright, journalist and writer who has been held in prison in Eritrea since 2001 without charges or a trial and is considered a traitor by the Eritrean government. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and has called for his immediate and unconditional release. For years, he was the only Swedish citizen held as a prisoner of conscience (he is now joined by kidnapped Swedish citizen and publicist Gui Minhai). As of 2025, he is considered to be one of the world's longest continuously detained journalists. Mike Balsamo, the president of the National Press Club claims him to be the longest detained journalist in the world.