Mr Amanuel has not been seen or heard from in 19 year, since he was arrested
The free speech organisation English PEN has given its 2020 award for International Writer of Courage to the Eritrean poet Amanuel Asrat.
Mr Amanuel has not been seen or heard from in 19 years, since he was arrested as part of a clampdown on government critics in his homeland.
He was the editor of the newspaper Zemen at the time.
His brother addressed the online ceremony on Monday and one of his poems was read out.
He was recommended for the award by the Jamaican-born British poet Linton Kwesi Johnson.
#PENPinterPrize winner Linton Kwesi Johnson announces Eritrean writer and editor Amanuel Asrat as the International Writer of Courage 2020. #FreeAmanuelAsrat https://t.co/Ar0CAVEXZy
— English PEN (@englishpen) October 12, 2020
(Photo credit: @GeorgeTorode) pic.twitter.com/nHlv5hsURk
