Private religious service raided in Eritrea: 38 arrested ASMARA, Eritrea—On January 24, 2004, Eritrean authorities arrested 38 persons associated with the Saba Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses in Asmara. These were individuals who had gathered on that date in a private home for peaceful religious services. Those arrested ranged in age from 6 to 90. The group of men, women and children included Witnesses and interested individuals in attendance. After three nights in detention at the police station, nine children were released, but five other children stayed in police custody. After two days, a 24-year-old woman who works at the Norwegian Embassy was released following a discussion between her manager and the police. The remaining 18 men and 10 women, ranging in age from 16 to 90, were transferred to a prison outside of Asmara. No one has been allowed to see them. This recent event follows the arrest of 164, including children, in attendance at the Hadas Alem Congregation in Asmara on April 16, 2003, when Jehovah's Witnesses had just completed their annual commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ. As reported by the U.S. Department of State's International Religious Freedom Report 2003, "approximately 160 Jehovah's Witnesses were detained while meeting in a private home in Asmara. Most were released within a week, but 5 who apparently were considered 'elders' were detained for 28 days." On January 6, 2004, the Embassy of Eritrea in Washington, DC, responded to the State Department report by issuing a press release that declared: "The Embassy of Eritrea wishes to register strong objections to the US State Department's 2003 report accusing the Government of Eritrea of restricting religious Because Jehovah's Witnesses conscientiously would not serve in the army, a principle of their belief worldwide, they were particularly singled out in 1994 by the Eritrean government and falsely accused of refusing "to recognize the state and its laws" and were stripped of their basic civil rights. Witnesses were subsequently dismissed from employment, were denied use of schools, and were refused identity papers and passports. On September 24, 1994, three young men—Paulos Eyassu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam—were imprisoned in Eritrea without charges or trial. These young men refused to join the military and take up arms. The maximum sentence for conscientious objection is three years in prison. However, nine years later, they are still waiting for a fair resolution. They are being held in the Sawa Prison and are denied visitors, including their families. The three imprisoned conscientious objectors have remained in detention since 1994. A fourth Witness, Aron Abraha, has been imprisoned since May 9, 2001, and another, Mussie Fessehaye, since 2003. Regarding those held after the January 24 arrest, neither their exact location nor the possibility of visits by family members is known. Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone:
|
Printable Version
