Earlier this week, as Ethiopians were preparing for their New Year’s celebration, prison officials denied Ethiopian journalist Reeyot Alemu visits from anyone but her parents. It remains unclear whether the decision to keep her separated from her friends, siblings, and fiance is in response to an open letter Alemu wrote in August, criticizing Ethiopia’s Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, but it appears to be unlikely that the timing of the new restrictions is coincidence. Protesting the prison’s decision to deny her visits from friends and relatives, Alemu has gone on hunger strike. The IWMF is deeply concerned about Alemu’s health and well-being, and calls on the decision-makers at Kaliti prison to re-instate Alemu’s full visitation privileges immediately.