Petros Solomon and Aster Yohannes, celebrated heroes of Eritrea's war of independence, were arrested without trial 25 years ago after Petros signed an open letter criticising President Isaias Afewerki's government. Their arrests marked a watershed moment in Eritrean history and left their children effectively orphaned, with no contact from either parent since that time. Their daughter Hanna, who was 10 years old when her father was taken, has now spoken publicly about the family's ordeal and the profound uncertainty that has defined their lives.

Petros Solomon, a senior wartime leader who served as defence minister and foreign minister, was arrested on 18 September 2001 after signing a petition with 14 other politicians (known as the G-15) demanding implementation of the country's constitution and national elections. Aster, who was studying in the US when Petros was detained, returned to Eritrea in December 2003 after government officials assured her safety, but was detained at Asmara International Airport and never released. The family has received no information about either parent's whereabouts, detention conditions or fate in the quarter-century since their disappearances.