Print this pageUPDATED For Immediate Release
October 5, 2011
One of Jehovah’s Witnesses dies while imprisoned in Eritrea
ASMARA, Eritrea—Misghina Gebretinsae, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses imprisoned in Eritrea without any specific charges, died under mysterious circumstances during his detainment by Eritrean authorities. He was 62 years old.
Although Mr. Gebretinsae was buried on July 20, details of the exact cause of his death are sketchy. Reportedly, Mr. Gebretinsae was put in solitary confinement in a sheet metal container for a week sometime prior to his death. Local Witnesses were told that Mr. Gebretinsae “fell sick” in the Meitir prison camp, where he was detained, and was pronounced “dead on arrival” at the Gindae Hospital near Massawa. Later, Mr. Gebretinsae’s body was brought to Halibet Hospital in Asmara and local Witnesses were contacted with the news of Misghina’s death. He is survived by a son and three daughters.
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Eritrea were only recently provided with this information on the death of Mr. Gebretinsae, who was known as a faithful Christian and family man. His family and fellow worshippers are grieving his loss. Mr. Gebretinsae was widely known as being trustworthy and dependable. Many local Witnesses viewed him as an asset to the congregation and to the community.
Jehovah’s Witnesses around the world are deeply troubled that their law-abiding fellow worshippers in Eritrea are being arrested and imprisoned without being charged with a crime or being given a trial. Mr. Gebretinsae was one of many Witnesses, including women and children, who experienced especially harsh treatment by Eritrean authorities during a wave of systematic arrests of Jehovah’s Witnesses from July 2008 through June 2009. The government has banned all minority religious groups in the country since 2002, but Witnesses in Eritrea appear to be a special target for mistreatment by the authorities. Three conscientious objectors among Jehovah’s Witnesses in Eritrea have been imprisoned for more than 17 years, and two children—who were just 2 and 3 years old at the time of their arrest in June 2009—are still imprisoned with their mothers. Imprisoned Witnesses have also been denied visitors, including their family members. As of April 5, 2011, there were 51 imprisoned Jehovah’s Witnesses in Eritrea, including Mr. Gebretinsae.
The death of Misghina Gebretinsae marks the first time one of Jehovah’s Witnesses has died while in the custody of Eritrean authorities.
Media Contacts:
J.R. Brown, Office of Public Information, tel. +1 718 560 5600
Belgium: European Association of Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses, tel. +32 2 782 0015