Disturbing case of Bayisa highlights domestic abuse and weak oversight in Ethiopia

Jimma Times

The unfolding case of Ethiopia's Olympic bronze medalist Fita Bayisa continues to shock people in a country trying to change damaging societal norms. Earlier this month, police confirmed the arrest of Oromia-native Fita Bayisa after he shot his wife over an alleged battle over property. However, as disturbing details of the years of domestic abuse in the family was revealed, Bayisa reportedly collapsed into tears over the tragedy.

According to JT sources, Bayisa, who won a medal for Ethiopia in the 5,000m at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, had a long history of violence, not only towards his wife but also toward his five children. Spending nights outside and returning home drunk, he would sometimes reportedly beat his wife and his two older children, incidents that had deep psychological impact on the whole family. The abusive husband's repeated assault forced his wife to seek medical threatment, though she hid the cause of her injuries, which included substantial bruises on her back and bleeding at her eyes.

But the extent of the 36-year-old Bayisa's violent behavior was not limited to actions inside his home. According to a statement by his wife to local journalists, Bayisa threatened her relatives when she sometimes leave home to seek protection. In one case, Bayisa, who allegedly had extramarital affairs, once threatened to bomb his wife and children. The impact of these and other problems caused Bayisa's oldest child to nearly commit suicide with poison.

The latest part of this saga then began when Bayisa's wife, with the support of a family member, finally decided to file for divorce. But her actions triggered Bayisa's most violent attack, as he shot his wife three times.

Though too late, Bayisa this week expressed deep regret for what he has done to his family. The tearful Bayisa admitted his condition is "hopeless." Saying it was "too late" to salvage his life and family, he offered all his financial resources for his children and to cover the medical costs for his wife, who is in a stable condition in a hospital.

Despite some efforts, education to reduce social problems like domestic violence is limited in Ethiopia and most women are not fully aware of their rights under the law. The Bayisa saga revealed new holes in the system in Ethiopia, where people expect the police to interfere but Bayisa was instead able to shoot his wife while she was in a police station.

Marital rape is also widely ignored in the country and a very small percentage of rape convictions are made by courts compared to the number of reports by rape victims. Women are often physically abused in Ethiopia, particularly in the rural, and abduction of girls as a form of marriage is widely practiced in the southern SNNPR and Oromia regions.

Observers say the government needs to improve information technology infrastructure and focus on prevention instead of just punishment for domestic violence.

According to JT sources, Bayisa had allegedly given a new house previously to another woman from his extramarital affair. Local newspapers also quoted his wife saying "I sacrificed everything" to make their relationship work, including giving up a promising running career for temporary jobs to take care of Bayisa before he gained fame during the Olympics.