Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Ethiopian man, Getnet Baye, filled 7-year-old girl, Heaven Awot, mouth with cement to stop her from screaming as he unalived her after he raped her in Bahir Dar.
The brutal rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl has sparked outrage in Ethiopia, with many saying the sentence given to her attacker is too lenient.
Heaven Awot was sexually assaulted, mutilated and killed by her mother’s landlord Getnet Baye last August in the north-western city of Bahir Dar in Amhara region.
Getnet was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The case attracted widespread attention after he recently launched an appeal, and the case is now adjourned until October.
The mother of the girl, Abekyelesh Adeba, tells the BBC that losing her child has left her feeling “lifeless”.
More than 200,000 people have so far signed an online petition demanding a review of the sentencing “to reflect the gravity of the crime” and to offer support for the grieving mother.
Heaven’s death has ignited a broader debate about the safety of women and girls in Ethiopia. A recent Human Rights Watch report highlighted an increase in sexual violence linked to the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region.
Before her death, Heaven’s family had been affected by the Tigray conflict, with her father imprisoned and then fleeing to Tigray. Her mother had trusted her landlord, but this trust was betrayed when Heaven was attacked while in the care of her aunt. Her mutilated body was later found outside their home.
Abekyelesh’s grief was compounded by Getnet’s escape from custody, following a break-in by local militias. For nearly a month, Getnet evaded capture, threatening Abekyelesh, who was forced to move frequently due to fear.
She now fears that justice may not be served if Getnet’s appeal succeeds. “I have lost my Heaven… I am lifeless,” Abekyelesh told the BBC. As a health worker, she knows her daughter’s case is not unique, highlighting the broader issue of violence against women and girls in Ethiopia.