Women’s and girls’ rights activists in Tigray are calling on participants in this year’s Ashenda celebrations to wear black instead of the festival’s customary colorful attire, in a symbolic protest demanding justice for Zewdu Haftu, whose killing has become a powerful symbol of the fight against violence against women and perceived impunity in Tigray.
The campaign, circulating on social media under hashtags meaning "Justice for Zewdu" and "Ashenda in Black," gained momentum following a court decision this week that acquitted the two men previously convicted of Zewdu Haftu’s murder, triggering widespread public anger and condemnation from women’s rights advocates.
Activist Weyni wrote: "As justice is being buried before our eyes, as our homeland has become a place where mafias and brutal criminals operate, and as our brothers and sisters continue to suffer, we cannot celebrate Ashenda as though nothing has happened."
Activist Makda D. Akelom called on women and girls to wear black during Ashenda. Weyni added: "This is a call for justice. There can be no celebration while the killer of our sister walks freely. An injustice against one woman is an injustice against us all. If we stand together, our voices will be heard."
Court Decision Sparks Outrage
The renewed calls for justice follow this week’s ruling by the Central Court of Mekelle that overturned the life sentences previously imposed on Yared Gebreselassie and Angesom Hailemariam, acquitting both men in the killing of Zewdu Haftu.
According to the court, key digital evidence that had linked the defendants to the victim’s mobile phone had disappeared from the court archive and could not be reproduced by investigators. Without that evidence, the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to meet the required burden of proof and acquitted both defendants.
The decision has provoked widespread criticism from activists and members of the public, many of whom argue that the disappearance of critical evidence raises serious concerns about the integrity of the judicial process rather than the innocence of the accused.
The case has long attracted public attention because of allegations of interference and intimidation. During earlier proceedings, the Tigray Judges Association publicly warned of increasing threats and pressure on judges, citing disruptions during hearings in the Zewdu Haftu case that forced judges and prosecutors to suspend proceedings for their own safety.
Critics have also pointed to the defendants’ reported family ties to senior figures within Tigray’s security establishment as contributing to public perceptions that political and military influence has undermined the administration of justice.
The acquittal has therefore become a focal point for broader concerns about judicial independence and accountability in Tigray.
A Festival of Culture and Identity
Ashenda is one of Tigray’s most celebrated cultural festivals, observed primarily by girls and young women following the two-week Fast of the Assumption of Saint Mary in the Orthodox Tewahedo tradition that starts tomorrow.
Throughout the festival, participants dress in brightly colored traditional clothing decorated with intricate embroidery, adorn themselves with fresh grasses known as ashenda, jewelry and elaborate hairstyles, and gather to sing, dance and celebrate their cultural heritage.
Streets across Tigray are typically filled with vibrant colors, music and festive processions, making Ashenda one of the region’s most distinctive cultural celebrations.
This year’s campaign seeks to transform that symbolism into a peaceful act of protest. By wearing black instead of the customary colorful dresses, organizers say participants can honor Zewdu Haftu’s memory while drawing attention to continuing concerns over violence against women and the need for justice.
Who Was Zewdu Haftu?
Zewdu Haftu, 32, was killed on the evening of August 19, 2023, in Mekelle.
According to eyewitness testimony presented during the trial, Zewdu and her friend Semhal Gebregziabiher were attacked while walking together. Prosecutors alleged that the assailants attempted to sexually assault Zewdu. When she resisted, they dragged her by the hair before deliberately driving over her with their vehicle, fatally crushing her.
The brutality of the killing shocked the public and quickly became one of Tigray’s most closely watched criminal cases.
For many activists, Zewdu’s case has come to represent broader concerns about violence against women, accountability, and public confidence in the justice system.
As Ashenda approaches, organizers of the "Ashenda in Black" campaign say wearing black is intended as a peaceful expression of mourning, solidarity, and a collective demand that justice be served for Zewdu Haftu and for all women affected by gender-based violence.
Originally published on UMD Media Facebook on 2026-08-06T09:00:00-06:00. Source: https://www.facebook.com/getachew.UMDMedia