In Ethiopia, a troubling trend is emerging as women's rights activists like Yordanos Bezabih are increasingly targeted by a wave of Digital Violence. Over the years, Bezabih has endured online threats of extreme violence, including acid attacks and death. However, the threats escalated dramatically in 2025, culminating in a coordinated effort to track her down through an anonymous Telegram group boasting 6,000 subscribers. This group shared deepfakes of her, including nude images and videos, intensifying the already dangerous atmosphere for women who dare to speak out.
Escalating Threats and Surveillance
In April 2025, the situation took a turn for the worse when the Telegram group began actively seeking to reveal Bezabih's location. In May, she experienced harassment in public as a stranger filmed her while calling her by her social media handle. The following summer saw her home invaded, with thieves stealing her laptop, a critical tool in her activism. Bezabih later discovered that her Telegram account had been hacked, leading to the circulation of her private photos and messages online. The threats escalated to demands for her execution, leaving her with no choice but to leave Ethiopia for a fellowship aimed at protecting human rights defenders. "I have been forced to remain outside the country in order to protect my safety and continue my work," she stated. Originally reported by The Guardian.
A New Target: Feminists
Bezabih's experiences reflect a broader trend in Ethiopia, where a growing number of feminists and women's rights defenders have fled the country due to rampant online violence. Three years after Facebook faced accusations of allowing hate speech to proliferate during the genocidal violence against ethnic Tigrayans, the focus has shifted to women engaged in activism. Maya Misikir, the sister of fellow activist Lella Misikir, noted that identifying as a feminist today can render one a target, as this label is increasingly seen as contrary to Ethiopian values and traditions. "If you self-describe as a feminist, then you become a target," she explained.
The Normalization of Online Abuse
The online environment in Ethiopia has deteriorated to such an extent that calling for violence against feminists is becoming normalized. An anonymous women's rights activist described this grim reality, stating, "To a loose ecosystem of conservative influencers - and a growing manosphere - women who speak out about gender-based violence are 'against Ethiopian identity, and hence they must be exterminated.'" The civil war in Tigray, characterized by mass sexual violence, has further shaped this atmosphere, leading to a culture where threats against women are commonplace. According to research by the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) has become so normalized that it often goes unnoticed, yet it has severe offline consequences, including psychological trauma and physical assaults.
Lack of Accountability from Authorities
Despite the alarming rise in online harassment, there is little evidence that Ethiopian authorities are taking action. Befekadu Hailu, a prominent civil society leader, expressed skepticism about the government's commitment to addressing these issues. "I don't think the government is much concerned about online harassment. It is barely a government agenda," he remarked. Activists have also pointed out that tech companies, despite having community guidelines in place, often fail to respond to reports of abuse. Bezabih highlighted that platforms do not adequately address the violence, which allows it to continue unchecked.
In 2023, Lella Misikir and the feminist collective Setaset Power initiated a campaign called My Whistle, My Voice, aimed at empowering women against street harassment. They encouraged women to carry red whistles and blow them when faced with catcalling. This campaign represents a collective effort to combat the normalization of harassment and violence against women in Ethiopia, signaling resilience amid adversity. As activists like Bezabih continue their work from abroad, the struggle for women's rights in Ethiopia remains fraught with challenges, yet their commitment to advocacy endures.
Originally reported by The Guardian. View original.