Dozens of Christians have been freed from prison in Eritrea after being held for years without charge.. WARWICK, N.Y., Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Eritrea is the center point of some of the most intense persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in modern times. I am also concerned of the imapact of the national serice on the right to educaiton of Eritrean students. Jehovah's Witnesses are required to remain politically neutral as part of their faith, abstaining from voting, running for office and partaking in military service. See our advertising page if you would like more information. Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam imprisoned without charge or trial. Jehovahs Witnesses will continue to inform government officials and others in authority about the situation in Eritrea. What a brilliant day this is for not just them but all of us that have prayed for them over the years. There were over 96,000 Eritrean refugees in Tigray before the crisis, living largely in four refugee camps, including Hitsats, Mai-Aini, Adi Harush, and Shemelba. Finally, since my appointment, I have not yet had the opportunity to meet with Eritrean officials. I cannot imagine how these dear ones will adjust after so long imprisoned. refugees from Hitsat and Shimelba camps are currently missing. He noted their honesty and that they . Is something happening on a global scale that we donot yet know about? Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea (Report A/HRC/41/53) May 16, 2019. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/G1914037.pdf. Three young men; Isaac, Negede and Paulos; were 18 and 21 year old when they were arrested in September 24, 1994. It's well past the time they were released. Eritrea has not yet put in place an institutional and legal framework to uphold minimum human rights standards in a democratic society. I call on Eritrean authorities to put an end to such treatments and comply with their international human rights obligations. that they mark the latest effort by the Eritrean regime to distract international I also welcome the release, on 4 December 2020, of 24 Jehovah's Witnesses, including the three conscientious objectors, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been. Four Witness men have died while in prison, and three died after they were released because of the harsh conditions they suffered. Known as the Tigray War, the armed conflict has been ongoing since last November between the Tigray Regional Government (led by the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front) and forces supportive of the Ethiopian government, which include military forces from Eritrea. I urge the Eritrean authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all of those who remain in prison because of their faith or belief. There are currently 52 Jehovah's Witnesses being held without trial in Eritrea, according to the Jehovah's Witnesses' Office of Public Information. A Quarter Century Unjustly Imprisoned in Eritrea This week marked 25 years in prison without charges or trial for three men in Eritrea. Paulos Eyasu, Negede Teklemariam, and Isaac Mogos are Jehovah's Witnesses and have been imprisoned because of their strongly held religious beliefs. We will need lots and lots of tissues for that broadcast. Theshouts of praise and sayings of gratitude to Jehovah from his heavenly and earthly children!! The prisoners had been held without charge or trial for periods of between two and 12 years. final statement It is my honour to present my first oral update to the Council since taking up the role of Special Rapporteur last November 2020. High Commissioner said many refugees appear to have been caught in crossfire, Their detention has also proven painful for friends and family, and one described his sorrow at losing his friend a quarter-century ago. Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to work in government offices, and the state takes away their identity cards. [6] United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Annual Report, USCIRF. I also ( suspiciously) wonder why this is happening now? Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. The Afwerki government revoked the citizenship of the country's Witnesses, citing their refusal to vote in the 1993 independence referendum, as well as their objection to conscription. Such allegations need to be investigated promptly and thoroughly by independent mechanisms. On 1 February, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam members of the Jehovah Witness faith were arrested over 25 years ago for objecting to military service that goes against their religion. Nana Ama McBrown Fanpage | Facebook However, since this presidential decree, security forces have imprisoned, tortured, and harassed Jehovahs Witnesses in an effort to force them to renounce their faith. ", Tags: Eritrea, CSW, Ethiopia, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Mervyn Thomas, Eritrea: Catholic bishop and priests released from detention, "We are about to be silenced once more" - Christians in Tigray, London: Mayor Sadiq Khan, Boris Johnson, attend prayer service on anniversary of Ukraine invasion, Professor Ian Linden: Putin's war and South Africa. This is fantastically great news when so little news is good. Apa Arti " PAULOS " Dalam Bahasa Indonesia September 2020 in Dekemhare, south-east of Asmara, were also released. I remain willing to engage constructively with the Government of Eritrea on urgent human rights concerns. Made me think of Joseph in prison, and how we never know what can happen. On 4 December 2020, the government released 24 Jehovah's Witnesses, including the high-profile conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been held for 26 years, and whose cases were highlighted by the former UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea in her final statement to the UN Third Committee in New York in They also requested Eritrea to "ensure the legal recognition of conscientious objection to military service and provide for alternative service of a civilian nature for conscientious objectors.. Breaking News/Eritrea prisoners released (merged) - JWTalk On 1 February, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, close to the capital city, Asmara. UNESCO urges caution over fraudulent African artefacts sold in its name. Your email address will not be published. As of September 17, 2019, three of the Witnesses, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, have been unjustly incarcerated for 25 years.In addition, 39 men and 10 women who are Witnesses are also imprisoned. Eritreas president, Isaias Afewerki, is a member of the Eritrean Orthodox Church in Asmara belonging to the largest among the only three Christian denominations allowed to function in the country. The freed prisoners include six women who were arrested on a street after worshipping in public.. Around 3,000 former residents of Shimelba and Hitsat have reportedly Ethiopia: Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human For example, since the last report of my predecessor, some prisoners such as Dawit Isaak, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist, and of ten of his colleagues remain for two decades in incommunicado detention. The practice of arbitrary and incommunicado detentions in Eritrea has serious impact on the life of many Eritreans. Police arrested others who were attending Christian meetings or publicly sharing their faith. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. All rights reserved. Apparently one of the brothers being released. On 1 February, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, close to the capital city, Asmara. Like many others imprisoned in Eritrea, detained Jehovahs Witnesses have no legal recourse and so cannot challenge their indefinite detention. I have not yet received a response from the Eritrean authorities. All have maintained uncompromising integrity to Jehovah God. The women were arrested after worshipping in public as they were walking down a street, an event which was caught on camera and circulated via social media. Wouldn't it be thrilling if Jehovah was securing their release because the Great Tribulation was about to start? As of 1 June 2020, HRWF documented 55 cases of Jehovahs Witnesses in its Prisoners Database,[2] 46 men and 9 women. On 27 January, six female prisoners who were detained in Christian Solidarity Worldwide has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds were recently released from three prisons in Eritrea. I also ( suspiciously) wonder why this is happening now? For more details about imprisoned Jehovahs Witnesses, seehttps://hrwf.eu/prisoners-database/. Eritrea is the center point of some of the most intense persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in modern times. In addition, 39 men and 10 women who are Witnesses are also imprisoned. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26795&LangID=E, Eritrea one of the least accessible countries for humanitarian organisations, Searches, Arrests, and Tension in Eritrea, Eritreas jailed journalist exhibition opens in UK Parliament, Dispute over Patriach splits Norwegian Orthodox church in two, Twenty one years after being jailed, Eritreas independent journalists are remembered in the British Parliament. [4] General Assembly of the United Nations, Situation of human rights in Eritrea. As of September 17, 2019, three of the Witnesses, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, have been unjustly incarcerated for 25 years.In addition, 39 men and 10 women who are Witnesses are also imprisoned. [3] European Parliament, Resolution on the cases of Abune Antonios and Dawit Isaak (2017/2755(RSP)) July 6, 2017. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0309_EN.html. This week marked 25 years in prison without charges or trial for three men in Eritrea. Is it related to the Civil war in Ethiopia? Seventy Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds, including women, have been released from three prisons in Eritrea, some after being held without charge for more than a decade, according to the U.K.-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports that the Christians - 70 in total - came from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds, with prison sentences ranging from two to 12 years. This is awesome news. And when will the authorities release Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, three conscientious objectors held for 26 years? paulos eyasu, isaac mogos and negede teklemariam releasedAppearance > Menus (619) Patriot (728-7468) lawrence township police department clearfield pa; OPR No: 12689 | Trapper ID No: 64965. A positive development occurred in January 2016 when a court brought to trial the Witnesses arrested at the Memorial in Asmara in April 2014. The country lacks rule of law, a constitution and an independent judiciary to enforce the protection of and respect for human rights. Several new topics have been merged into this topic. I am particularly concerned about the two refugee camps, which hosted over 25,000 Eritrean refugees in Tigray region, Hitsats and Shemelba, and which were allegedly destroyed in attacks carried out by Eritrean and Ethiopian troops between November 2020 and January 2021, despite their protected humanitarian status under the 1951 Convention on the Protection of refugees. CSW has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical While I welcome the release by the authorities of the Christians and Jehovahs Witnesses, I have to note that Eritrea continues to impose restrictions on religious freedoms. There are no reliable figures on religious affiliation, but it is estimated that 49% of the population are Christian and 49% are Sunni Muslim.[1]. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Numerous Jehovahs Witnesses took part in these alternative options under different government administrations. from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, close to the capital city, Asmara. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that the US government: [1] For more religious statistics, see U.S. Department of State, Office of International Religious Freedom, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Report on international Religious Freedom: Eritrea 2018, 2018. https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-report-on-international-religious-freedom/eritrea/. Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam were detained on Sept. 17, 1994, apparently because they conscientiously objected to military service, according to a report published. On 4 December 2020, the government released 24 Jehovah's Witnesses, including the high-profile conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been held for 26 years, and whose cases were highlighted by the former UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea in her final statement to the UN Third Committee in New York in . Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-report-on-international-religious-freedom/eritrea/, https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-8-2017-0309_EN.html, https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/G1914037.pdf, https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Egypt.pdf, https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Eritrea.pdf, Human Rights Without Frontiers International. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Eritrean authorities imprisoned both men in 2008 without charges. I also welcome the release, on 4 December 2020, of 24 Jehovah's Witnesses, including the three conscientious objectors, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been held for 26 years, and whose cases were highlighted by the former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea in her statement during the Are the Jehovah Witnesses the world's most persecuted religion? Return to homepage. Thomas called on the international community to press Eritrea for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained arbitrarily on account of their religion or belief., We also call for urgent action to arrest the unfolding crisis in Tigray, including by imposing arms embargoes on the warring parties, and sanctions on the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who bear ultimate responsibility for human rights violations that are allegedly being committed with impunity by their respective forces.. Eritrea: 70 Christen aus Gefngnis freigekommen | Jesus Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1991 after 30 years of continuous armed struggle by the Eritrean Liberation Front. https://www.jw.org/finder?srcid=jwlshare&wtlocale=E&prefer=lang&docid=502019283&par=2. "Our families spent the whole evening together. The trioidentified as Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariamhave been incarcerated in. I've also been praying for them by first name, when I learned they were imprisoned, for over 20 years at that time. We also call for urgent action to arrest the Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. parties, and sanctions on the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who bear They also cannot receive a complete education: 12th-grade education takes place at the Sawa military camp, but because Jehovah's Witnesses conscientiously object to military service, they do not register for their final year of education. We need your help to continue this work. Christian Solidarity Worldwide has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds were recently released from three prisons in Eritrea. Petition Release Imprisoned Jehovah's Witnesses & Others Imprisoned They were held at the Sawa military training camp until 2017, when they were transferred to Mai Serwa prison, where they were briefly granted access to visitors for the first time since their imprisonment. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The women were arrested for worshiping in public, a video of which was shared by some on social media, CSW said. "[We] hope our desire to find a solution will be considered," he said. Eritrea: Seventy Christians released from three prisons Furthermore, Jehovahs Witnesses decline to participate in political elections. paulos eyasu, isaac mogos and negede teklemariam released of human rights, both within its own borders and now in Tigray. that have emerged consistently since December 2020 of thousands of refugees being war in Ethiopias Tigray region, where Eritrean troops have been accused of [3], Presented to the UN Human Rights Council on 16 May 2019, the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea stated that Jehovahs Witnesses face severe persecution, including denial of citizenship and travel papers, for their political neutrality and conscientious objection to military service. detained. Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights of all those detained arbitrarily on account of their religion or belief. This year has really had a lot of unexpected events. Detainees and conscripts at military training camps are subject to torture, including a method called "otto," in which hands are tied together behind the back while victims lie on their stomachs. I too was thinking about that same thing, what significance is this for Jehovah? Witnesses, including the high-profile conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, We lock topics that areover 365 days old, and the last reply made in this topic was 758 days ago. . The authorities systematically issued Certificates of Completed National Service and often praised participants for their work. "Some of those Witnesses have been imprisoned for more than 20 years. paulos eyasu, isaac mogos and negede teklemariam released Male Jehovah's Witnesses between 18 and 40 often live in hiding, and if found by police, they face torture for objecting to military service. As of September 17, 2019, three of the Witnesses, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, have been unjustly incarcerated for 25 years.