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Meaza Mohammed wants the people of Ethiopia to get the real story, at whatever cost is necessary to do so. The journalist with the independent YouTube channel, Roha TV, has been arrested for “allegedly spreading false rumors and disclosing the army’s battlefield location to the enemy,” as the U.S. Department of State worded it.
On International Women’s Day, first lady Jill Biden honored Mohammed for her work and courage.
After the ceremony, Mohammed spoke to rolling out about her career and journey.
What was it like to be honored at the White House by Jill Biden?
It was exciting, and that was really an excellent opportunity not only for me as a journalist but also for my fellow journalists to find out you have been heard on the international level, especially in the White House, it’s a great opportunity.
We have so many causes and issues we are trying to raise in our country. We are trying to be a voice for those who are voiceless, and for those who are neglected in different situations.
There are so many women and children who are under the war of gender-based attacks, and so many abductions and things much worse in my country, but we are trying to shout to be a voice still in our country.
We are put in prison. There are so many ways they are trying to silence us, but when it comes to the international way in the White House, it is a big thing for those who are voiceless. Their voice, their pictures, and their situations have been listened to and they are international situations. So our government will also listen to us, whether they like it or not, they will listen to us.
What is your superpower?
My superpowers are the victims. The victims’ hope is all in your [heart]. Whenever you put up one interview, whenever you do a single report, they just put all their hope in you next time and they expect you the next time they call you. They tell you the updates, and what is happening to them, they even consider you like a government official. They call you like, “The people are coming to do this. I’m sick,” those are the people who are vulnerable to different STDs, including HIV.
They have serious psychological problems. They are in trauma. So, if they got the media, they consider it like a government, if they saw people who are coming from the city, especially from the capital city like me, they just receive all the hope.
So, they give you the strength, they give you the superpower to stand with them because they’re passing the worst thing in their life.
The thing you may face or sacrifice becomes very simple for you. Being under your worst [days], it becomes very simple when you compare it to the [abused] women, when you compare it to the women who are suffering for food, the women who are trying to escape from abduction or being kidnapped.
So, the superpower of courage comes from the victims, from their stories and from their hope.