On October 1, Jawar Mohammed et al have appealed to the court that it consider summoning the Attorney General over his recent comment that could violate their right to presumption of innocence. Bekele Gerba and Jawar Mohammed have told the court that the statement that the Attorney General, Gedion Timothewos recently gave to journalists opposes their right to be seen as innocent and could potentially imperil their lives.

Jawar has said that ”officials, especially the Attorney General are giving opinions as though the court has passed a sentence on even before the hearings.”

”We have been labeled ultranationalists and we have been portrayed as though we have caused mayhem and caused the deaths of people,” Jawar told the court.

Bekele said: “The Attorney General has given a statement to the foreign media in a situation we could not defend ourselves. This calls into question his impartiality.”

Jawar and Bekele appealed that Dr. Gedion be presented before the court and be questioned.

Asked by a journalist to react on the allegation by Jawar Mohammed that the case against him and others was politically motivated, Gedion Timothewos said that there were hundreds of people who have been directly affected by the violence these individuals have instigated and incited, adding “so, we have to distinguish between peaceful lawful political mobilization and the kind of rhetoric, the kind of ultranationalist militant violent political activism that results in death and injury of citizens.”

The court ordered the Attorney General to explain his comment in writing at the next hearing.