#JusticeForHeaven: Brutal Rape and Murder of 7-Year-Old Sparks National Outcry in Ethiopia

The case has not only shaken the nation but also reignited discussions about the safety of women and children, the flaws in the justice system and the collective responsibility of society.

"The brutality, the sheer inhumanity of the act — it was unimaginable," activist Lella Misikir tells OkayAfrica. "And the fact that she's a 7-year-old girl… that’s what people are responding to. There's no way to justify this; outrage was the only answer."

Questions, in particular, are being raised around Baye’s charge and sentencing. In a statement to the BBC, The Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association called the sentence “light” in a statement.

"The murder by itself should have been enough to sentence him to life imprisonment or to death… It’s especially sickening and outrageous when such a horrendous crime is committed against children," the statement said.

Baye’s decision to seek an appeal, despite the heinous nature of his crime, has further fueled public outrage. "The audacity comes from understanding how the community and society function," Misikir explains. "It’s not just his audacity. It’s also from those who gave him the confidence to feel comfortable, because he's very well supported."

On the other hand, Awot’s mother, Abekyelesh Adeba, has faced direct death threats from Baye as she tirelessly fought to bring her daughter’s story to the public. She had to go into hiding with her other daughter after Baye escaped jail. Baye escaped after local militias broke into the jail he was held in to free their fellow fighters. It would be another month before he was rearrested.

“[Awot’s] mother is brave, but more than anything, she is very clear — clear that this is not okay, and clear that she refuses to stay silent,” says Misikir.

Her courage has resonated with many, and over 200,000 people have signed a petition within four days, demanding justice for Awot. The online campaign has galvanized countless others to take to social media to express their grief and anger.

The minister for women and social affairs, Ergogie Tesfaye, called the crimes against Awot "inhumane." But despite the comments from some government officials, Misikir believes that the response to Awot’s case is indicative of a larger issue — one that involves a collective failure to address violence against women and children directly.

"We don't talk about these issues enough. The beauty of social media is that it allows us to inform people, so they can respond appropriately. Now they cannot say they didn’t know."

"I know there are so many Heavens." Misikir adds, noting that Heaven’s case is unfortunately not unique. "There are a lot of Heavens, and we don’t even hear about them all. That’s what’s heartbreaking.”