Eritrea holds 20 prisoners for three months in undisclosed location ASMARA, Eritrea—Twenty Eritreans who were arrested on January 24, 2004, continue to be held in an undisclosed location. The oldest is 94 years old, and the youngest is 18. No charges have been filed against those being held, and neither family nor friends can visit them. The 20, all of whom are Jehovah's Witnesses, were among 38 arrested in January while participating in a peaceful Bible study held in a private home. The police took all 38 to the police station and later released some adults in attendance as well as nine children. However, three minors are still being detained. Their exact location is not known, and no one has been allowed to see them. The house used for the religious meeting is still closed by the police.
In January, the Eritrean government publicly proclaimed that the country has "absolute freedom of belief." However, because Jehovah's Witnesses refuse to kill their fellowman in any war, a principle of their belief worldwide, but choose instead to perform nonmilitary civilian service, they have been accused of refusing "to recognize the state and its laws" and have been stripped of basic civil rights. Witnesses have been dismissed from employment, denied schooling, and were refused identity papers and passports. Contact: J. R. Brown, telephone:
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