Johan Persson (photographer)

Johan Persson at the press conference in the ABF building in Stockholm on 14 September 2012.

Johan Karl Persson (born March 3, 1982) is a Swedish photographer who was sentenced to eleven years in prison for terrorist crimes in Ethiopia on December 27, 2011, but who was later pardoned and released on 10 September 2012.

Career

Persson studied at the School of Photography at Studium in Gothenburg, Sweden. Since he completed his education Persson has worked as a freelance photographer starting with reportage pictures of Skinheads of Beijing that can be seen through Photo Agency Kontinent^[1] He has collaborated with journalist Anna Roxvall^[2] during many years. Together they have produced highly praised articles about neo-Nazis in the United States^[3] and Mexican undocumented immigrants returning home published by Svenska Dagbladet (SVD).^[4] In addition, they reported on culture and politics in various African countries: refugee camps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,^[5] speed trained amateur doctors in Malawi,^[6] sowing seeds for democracy in southern Sudan,^[7] pirate fishing in Camaroon^[8] and Botswana Heavy Metal generation.^[9]

Arrested for suspicion of terrorist crimes in Ethiopia

It was on July 1 that photographer Johan Persson and reporter Martin Schibbye were arrested by Ethiopian security forces while Persson and Schibbye were crossing the border from Somalia to Ethiopia in an attempt to make a report in the closed Ethiopian region of Ogaden. The purpose of the trip was to confirm information they previously received from refugees about human rights violations in Ogaden. On September 7 they were charged with the suspicion of terrorism offenses and for illegally entering the Ogaden region from Somalia.^[10] In December, Persson and Schibbye were sentenced to 11 years in jail.^[11][12]

Amnesty International demanded on 21 December 2011 to release immediately and unconditionally two Swedish journalists convicted by an Ethiopian court despite their legitimate journalistic work.^[13]

On 10 September 2012 they were pardoned and released. Persson returned to Sweden on 14 September 2012 and subsequently held a press conference together with Martin Schibbye, telling about their time in Ethiopia.

Awards

Persson was nominated for the Swedish Red Cross Journalist Prize for 2011.^[14] He won third prize for Third prize in International Daily Life singles, Picture of the Year, Neo-Nazis in USA.^[15]

References

1. "Johan Persson | Photographers | Kontinent". Kontinent.se. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
2. "reportage i urval". Annaroxvall.se. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
3. "Fokus » Den ariska drömmen". Fokus.se. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
4. "USA:s papperslösa vänder hem när jobben blir färre | SvD" (in Swedish). Svd.se. 2009-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
5. document.write(""); Tweet Anna Roxvall [email protected] (2008-11-16). "Operation pågår mitt i brinnande krig | Utrikes | SvD" (in Swedish). Svd.se. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
6. document.write(""); Tweet Johan Persson Anna Roxvall (2008-08-17). "Farligt att bli mamma i Malawi | Utrikes | SvD" (in Swedish). Svd.se. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
7. http://www.annaroxvall.se/Reportage_files/sudanamnesty.pdf
8. http://www.annaroxvall.se/Reportage_files/Kamerun%20i%20etc.pdf
9. "Botswana Heavy Metal Generation | Kontinent stories". Kontinent.se. 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
10. document.write(""); Tweet Stockholm TT (2011-09-07). "Svenskar terroråtalas i Etiopien | Inrikes | SvD" (in Swedish). Svd.se. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
11. "Ethiopia jails Swedish journalists on terror charges". BBC News. 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
12. "Swedish journalists receive 11 years in jail". CNN.com. 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
13. Ethiopia: Swedish journalists must be released immediately and unconditionally Amnesty International 21 December 2011
14. "This year's nominees to the Red Cross Prize for Journalism". 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
15. "More Kontinent » Photography Awards". Kontinent.se. Retrieved 2011-12-27.