( CNN ) -- The two Swedish journalists convicted as terrorists in Ethiopia have opted to seek a pardon rather than appeal the verdict and their 11-year sentences , a Swedish official said Tuesday . Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson were convicted in December by a court in Addis Ababa after being accused of helping the Ogaden National Liberation Front , which Ethiopia has labeled a terrorist organization , and for entering Ethiopia illegally . The decision to try for a pardon `` does not mean any change in our view that they were there working as journalists and that they should be released as soon as possible , '' Kent Oberg , spokesman for the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs , told CNN . Ethiopian troops captured Persson and Schibbye in July during an exchange of gunfire with the rebel group in the Ogaden , a prohibited region along the nation 's border with Somalia , according to state media . In a short statement provided to CNN by Schibbye 's mother , Karin , the two journalists said : `` There is a tradition of mercy and forgiveness in Ethiopia and we choose to rely on this tradition . '' The Swedish Union of Journalists reiterated that Persson and Schibbye were in Ethiopia working as journalists . `` It will always be a defeat for press freedom when journalists are prosecuted , imprisoned and convicted when they are performing their job as journalists , '' Jonas Nordling , president of the Swedish Union of Journalists , said in a statement on the union 's website . Karin Schibbye said in a phone call with CNN that this has been a difficult time for the family . `` I 'm very shaken , but I 'm starting to get used to it , '' she said . `` We live day by day . The first big shock came when they were prosecuted . The next devastating moment was when the judge found them guilty of terrorism . '' She said the two men deny that they were in Ethiopia to support terrorism . `` They are innocent . They had no intention of disrupting anything in Ethiopia , no bad intentions at all , but now it is like they are in a trap , '' she said . `` The fact that they chose not to appeal means they now have to figure out exactly how this process of seeking a pardon will work , if they have to admit to the crimes or just apologize . '' The pair sought `` the best possible advice , '' she said , adding that `` most experts have said that seeking a pardon is the best way forward . '' After the trial , she said , `` They felt that their defense arguments did n't have much impact '' and `` They felt that it was very unlikely that another judge would see it any different . '' `` This may take a long time , but they are ready for it , '' she said . Karin Schibbye last saw the two journalists just before Christmas , and she said the pair feels that they have great support from home . `` They are happy that their case has put a spotlight on press freedom and human rights in Ethiopia and that their ordeal is n't in vain . '' Schibbye and Persson are being held under harsh circumstances at the Kality prison , Karin Schibbye told CNN . `` The prison is divided into zones with about 1,000 people in each zone , '' she said . `` In each zone there are small huts , with between 150 and 250 people in each , where they are locked up at night . In each hut there are only about 100 beds , so most people sleep on the bare floor . At one point Martin told me there were so many prisoners in the hut that they had to sleep stacked next to each other on the floor . '' But now Schibbye and Persson have advanced in the prison 's `` inner hierarchy , '' Karin Schibbye said , and they share a bed that is 90 centimeters wide . `` They have also sewn , like , a tent to give them a little bit of privacy , '' she said . `` But the light is never turned off and it is never quiet at night , so I think that is the hardest thing for them . '' The men have put themselves on a daily schedule of eating and exercising to try to stay healthy , '' she said . `` But there is no room to exercise , so they jump up and down right where they are to at least do something . '' The family is paying a hotel across the street to bring them lunch packets each day , `` and we 've given them some dry food to cook at night , '' she said . `` But they have to hang it up in the roof so that the rats do n't eat it . ... We should have given them metal cans instead of plastic ones since the rats can eat through the plastic cans . '' Schibbye and Persson have also persuaded the prison warden to allow them to start setting up a library in the prison , she said . `` Now every time we go down there from now on we will bring a suitcase full of English books . So if anyone wants to help out and send down English books to their new library that would be great , '' Karin Schibbye told CNN . When the process of seeking a pardon can start is still unclear , the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said .
Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson are serving 11-year sentences . `` There is a tradition of mercy and forgiveness in Ethiopia , '' Schibbye 's mother says . `` They felt that their defense arguments did n't have much impact '' at trial , she says . They have been held in harsh conditions , she says .