Eritrea continues to have no national assembly to adopt laws, including those regulating fundamental rights and the right of the Eritrean people to participate freely in the public life of their country. Most of the prisoners were freed from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, near the capital, Asmara, on 1 February. Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam have been imprisoned in Eritrea since 1994. Jehovahs Witnesses will continue to inform government officials and others in authority about the situation in Eritrea. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. However, this good news must not obscure the Eritrean regime's continued complicity in egregious violations of human rights, both within its own borders and now in Tigray. It hurt my heart to know that the best years of their lives were completely wasted in prison. On 1 February 2021, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons near Asmara. My wife work in the same company as family members of one of the 3 brothers who have been in prison for so long time. More commonly though, they arrested individuals for undisclosed reasons. 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 Thus, as the physical head directs the movements and operations of the body, or the head one of a department supervises the organization and work of his staff, so the . Recommended for countries of particular concern: Eritrea, 2020, 2020. https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Egypt.pdfhttps://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Eritrea.pdf. Od wielu lat wadze Erytrei bez procesw i aktw oskarenia pod zarzutem dziaalnoci religijnej lub bez podania powodu aresztuj i wtrcaj do wizienia wiadkw Jehowy, w tym kobiety i starcw. The country is ruled by a totalitarian one-party dictatorship of Maoist inspiration. Since there are no effective domestic legal procedures or remedies available to them, their imprisonment amounts to a de facto life sentence. The president also stripped them of basic civil rights. If this is due to COVID-19 ( some news sources indicate others are being released for this reason). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Image copyright: Jehovah's Witnesses Office of Public Information. I proposed that I visit Eritrea from 21 to 31 January 2021 to hold consultations with relevant officials from the Government and a range of actors with a view to assessing the human rights situation on the ground, and to exploring jointly future avenues for constructive engagement for the sake of the protection and promotion of human rights in the country. Turning to the issue of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, there has been no progress. 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 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. final statement 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.. "We call 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. 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Eritrea has been designated a "country of particular concern" by the State Department since 2004 because of its religious freedom abuses. In Eritrea, the report mentioned that 52 Jehovah's Witnesses were in jail (as mentioned earlier, 28 were released on December 4). I also ( suspiciously) wonder why this is happening now? On 1 February, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, close to the capital city, Asmara. The authorities systematically issued Certificates of Completed National Service and often praised participants for their work. As a result, Witnesses are not allowed to hold government identity cards or business licenses, or to complete high school. This is fantastically great news when so little news is good. Christian Solidarity Worldwide has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds were recently released from three prisons 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. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Update: This article has been updated to reflect a clarification from Jehovah's Witnesses spokesperson Gilles Pichaud in his statement. Sie wurden ohne Anklage oder Urteil festgehalten. Jehovahs Witnesses are politically neutral and conscientiously cannot participate in military service. On 1 February, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, close to the capital city, Asmara. See brochure: SPECIAL REPORT: The Persecution of Jehovahs Witnesses in Eritrea.. This week marked 25 years in prison without charges or trial for three men in Eritrea. The prisoners had been held without charge or trial for periods of between two and 12 years. With no beauracracy or lengthy procedure - just released suddenly! By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. All Witnesses currently in prison have never been charged, appeared in court, or sentenced. Numerous Jehovahs Witnesses took part in these alternative options under different government administrations. Eritrea has failed to implement the recommendations issued by these authorities. 300 | Phoenix, AZ 85023 Christian Solidarity Worldwide has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds were recently released from three prisons in Eritrea. Thus, when the Witnesses contacted him, he immediately began to study the Bible with them and to attend their meetings. Some Jehovahs Witness prisoners have been detained in metal shipping containers, while others were held in stone or metal buildings half buried in the ground. They were focused on trying to take everything of value, she added, saying that they even stole diapers. Because they will not participate in compulsory military service, Eritrean authorities consider them to be opposed to the regime. of human rights, both within its own borders and now in Tigray. The trioidentified as Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariamhave been incarcerated in the East African nation since 1994, after refusing to partake in military service, part of their pacifist beliefs as Jehovah's Witnesses. Persecution in Eritrea intensified on October 25, 1994, about a year and a half after Eritrea became an independent country from Ethiopia. High Commissioner said many refugees appear to have been caught in crossfire, It is also not acceptable for Eritrea to arbitrary detain political opponents in secret prisons without charge or trial in violation of human rights standards. These are other examples of numerous cases of individuals who are currently languishing in Eritrean prisons, with no prospect of release. She saw trucks being loaded with boxes of looted items that were to be delivered to places in Eritrea. The releases also coincide with reports that have emerged consistently since December 2020 of thousands of refugees being forcibly returned to Eritrea from two camps in Tigray, many of whom were allegedly detained. CSW has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical We lock topics that areover 365 days old, and the last reply made in this topic was 758 days ago. We are a pro-JW community maintained by brothers and sisters around the world. I am in tears . We call on the I canimagine a broadcast in the coming months containinginterviews with these faithful brothers and sisters. December 4, 2020 in JW.org Press Releases & JW's in the News, BREAKING NEWS| Eritrea Releases 28 Jehovahs Witnesses From Prison Theshouts of praise and sayings of gratitude to Jehovah from his heavenly and earthly children!! 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 . 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 has not yet put in place an institutional and legal framework to uphold minimum human rights standards in a democratic society. I am also concerned of the imapact of the national serice on the right to educaiton of Eritrean students. They were paraded round the camp in the back of a Toyota pickup truck. Estimates suggest that thousands of Eritrean soldiers have fought in the Tigray War on the side of the Ethiopian government. 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. All rights reserved. If you want to discuss this subject, we prefer that you start a new topic. The trioidentified as Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariamhave been incarcerated in. one in charge of a division or department.". Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. In December, 24 Jehovah's Witnesses were freed, among them high-profile conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been held for 26 years., Although their release has been welcomed, CSW said it is possible that Eritrea is trying to deflect international attention away from its involvement in the ongoing war in Ethiopia's Tigray region, where Eritrean troops have been accused of acts of violence that may amount to war crimes or even genocide.. CSW's Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: "CSW welcomes the release of these Christians in Eritrea, who were detained without charge or trial, and should never have been incarcerated. Why is same-sex marriage an issue in the election of the new Scottish First Minister? What a brilliant day this is for not just them but all of us that have prayed for them over the years. In December 24 Jehovah's Witnesses were freed, among them high-profile conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been held for 26 years. Paulos Eyassu, Isaac Mogos, Negede Teklamarium most of all. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1991 after 30 years of continuous armed struggle by the Eritrean Liberation Front. We believe no one should suffer discrimination, harassment or persecution because of their beliefs. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. 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 October 2020. I'm so happy about this news that I have a silly smile on my face all day!!! ultimate responsibility for human rights violations that are allegedly being ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community. Cant wait to hear more about this. Learn more about each topic, see who's involved, and find the latest news, reports, events and more. Finally to the clandestine world of art fraud and African artefacts, which are being sold to unsuspecting buyers, thanks to the fake UNESCO stamp they . By signing up you will receive news about CSW's work and how you can support it. ( As I have their names memorized)! They may be third world/developing countries, but youd be shocked how wide-spread cellph. 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 On 1 February, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released dallas stars skating academy ballet rosa ambassador. 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. . On 18 December 2020, I requested an invitation to undertake an official visit to Eritrea in my capacity as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. , Amazing how Jehovah moved those authorities to release them - the officials are probably scratching their heads, wondering why. I've also been praying for them by first name, when I learned they were imprisoned, for over 20 years at that time. Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam are Je - hovah's Witnesses who are being held incommunicado by the State of Eritrea. Interesting article from the Experiences of Jehovahs Witnesses series. Sixty-four of the Christians had no charges and some of them were jailed for worshipping in public. Registered in England and Wales 5090917, Christian Today, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN, Evangelical church redirects payments after CofE gay blessing vote, Evangelical church pursues alternative oversight after CofE same-sex blessing vote. galaxy s22 ultra s view flip cover support@missionbadlaav.com; withings account already exists Menu. According to July 2018 estimates by the US government, the total population of Eritrea is six million. 1940s First communities of Jehovah's Witnesses are established in Eritrea. Kate Forbes: Would a Christian be permitted to lead Scotland. Soon after Eritrea gained independence in 1993, President Isaias Afwerki began a crackdown on religious groups he felt opposed to the state. Zenebu detailed how she looked on as she saw Eritrean soldiers loot the belongings from residents homes. The situation of detainees and political prisoners is particularly concerning. In the context of COVID-19, I call on Eritrean authorities to release those particularly vulnerable, including older detainees and those who are sick. 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. ( As I have their names memorized)! On Jan. 27, six female prisoners, who had been in detention since last September, in Dekemhare, which is southeast of Asmara, were also released. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, approximately 20,000 refugees from Hitsat and Shimelba camps are currently missing. Amazing news! The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". They include conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who have been held for 26 years. 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]. Among other restrictions, Jehovahs Witnesses are not able to receive a full secular education, own a business, or travel outside of the country. parties, and sanctions on the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who bear He was young and a person of impeccable character.". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". CSW welcomes the release of these Christians in Eritrea, who were detained without charge or trial, and should never have been incarcerated, CSW President Mervyn Thomas said. Four Witness men have died while in prison, and three died after they were released because of the harsh conditions they suffered. In addition, 39 men and 10 women who. Vote Religious Freedom Updates Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. Citing eyewitnesses he met during a recent visit to Mai Aini, the High Commissioner said many refugees appear to have been "caught in crossfire, abducted and forced to return to Eritrea under duress by Eritrean forces. The Eritrean authorities will demonstrate their genuine commitment to human rights when they release those individuals arbitrarily held in Eritrean prisons and provide information about those who have . While in prison, this man saw firsthand that Jehovah's Witnesses live by what they teach. The Return to homepage. I also welcome the release, on 4 December 2020, of 24 Jehovahs 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 presentation of her report to the Human Rights Council in June 2020, and her interactive dialogue with the UN General Assembly on 26 October 2020. Paulos Eyasu, Negede Teklemariam, and Isaac Mogos are Jehovah's Witnesses and have been imprisoned because of their strongly held religious beliefs. Special Procedures, 46rd Session of the Human Rights Council. Since 2006, JWTalk has proved to be a well-moderated online community for realJehovah's Witnesses on the web. 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. I am also concerned about allegations of possible implication of Eritrean troops in cases of serious human rights violations, including acts of abductions, forceful or unvoluntary return of Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers, and their imprisonment in different prisons in Eritrea. Three young men; Isaac, Negede and Paulos; were 18 and 21 year old when they were arrested in September 24, 1994. 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. It is not endorsed, sponsored, or maintained by any legal entity used by Jehovah's Witnesses. I wonder if we'll learn at a later time the gravity of this And it has happened so suddenly! In recent years, prominent human rights bodies have expressed increasing concern over Eritreas blatant disregard for international human rights standards, including cases involving Jehovahs Witnesses. Sixty-four of the Christians had no charges and some of them were jailed for worshipping in public. forcibly returned to Eritrea from two camps in Tigray, many of whom were allegedly By a presidential decree dated 25 October1994, President Afewerki revoked citizenship for Jehovahs Witnesses because they did not participate in the 1993 independence referendum and they are conscientious objectors to military service. We send them this sms this morning and we are sure you would agree:Dear brothers, how wonderful Jehovah is. The national service requirements oblige all secondary school students in the country to complete their final year at the Warsai Yekalo Secondary School, located in the Sawa military camp, and to undertake mandatory military training for approximately five months of that year. It is difficult to speak of progress in Eritrea while their cases remain unresolved. It is also alleged that military officials in Sawa subject students to ill-treatment and harsh punishments, including corporal punishment, and students undertake forced labour. Eritrea is the center point of some of the most intense persecution of Jehovahs Witnesses in modern times. Required fields are marked *. For years, I prayed for the three brothers in Eritrea who were imprisoned for their faith longer than anyone else in JW history: Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam. Press briefing note on Myanmar/Bangladesh - Rohingya, UN expert implores Myanmars Suu Kyi: open your eyes, listen, feel with your heart, National institutions and regional mechanisms. I recently spoke with an ex-prisoner that spent a couple of years in Sawa prison with Jehovah's Witnesses (including Isaac, Negede and Paulos). the release of these Christians in Eritrea, who were detained without charge or In September, HRWF had published its report In Prison For Their Faith 2020. women were arrested after worshipping in public as they were walking down a We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. In total, over 50 Jehovah's Witnesses are currently imprisoned in Eritrea, and all are kept at Mai Serwa prison. On religious freedoms, I welcome the release of a large group of Christians. I cannot imagine how these dear ones will adjust after so long imprisoned. See our advertising page if you would like more information. Jehovahs Witnesses behind bars: some statistics. A number of beliefs and practices of Jehovahs Witnesses have been perceived negatively by the current government. I also ( suspiciously) wonder why this is happening now? What is the source ? Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. I urge the Eritrean authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all of those who remain in prison because of their faith or belief. 144hz monitor stuttering; . 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. committed with impunity by their respective forces.. PaulosEyassu, Isaac Mogos, Negede Teklamarium most of all. detained. Wouldn't it be thrilling if Jehovah was securing their release because the Great Tribulation was about to start? She also urged the Government to provide members of this congregation with the opportunity to participate in a form of civil service that is consistent with their religious beliefs.[5].