Dawit Isaak

Dawit Isaak is an Eritrean playwright, journalist and writer who has been held in prison in Eritrea since 2001 without charges or a trial and is considered a traitor by the Eritrean government. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience and has called for his immediate and unconditional release. For years, he was the only Swedish citizen held as a prisoner of conscience. As of 2025, he is considered to be one of the world's longest continuously detained journalists. Mike Balsamo, the president of the National Press Club claims him to be the longest detained journalist in the world.