Big cities run by Democrats for decades are now supposedly 'ungovernable', HBO's sexploitation is a workers' rights travesty, WATCH: Steven Spielberg likens rise in antisemitism to 'Germany in the '30s', AOC gloats after construction of Virginia Amazon headquarters delayed as company cuts jobs, Alex Murdaugh trial: Watch the key video that could've sealed guilty murder verdict. Dozens of Christians have been freed from prison in Eritrea after being held for years without charge.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Is it related to the Civilwar in Ethiopia? 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/. Eritrea has been designated a "country of particular concern" by the State Department since 2004 because of its religious freedom abuses. 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. Earlier this year, the United Nations Human Rights Committee asked Eritrea "to release all persons arrested or detained for exercising their freedom of religion, including Jehovahs Witnesses." In their August report, the Jehovah's Witnesses called on Eritrea to release the 52 prisoners, grant full citizenship rights to Jehovah's Witnesses, and permit conscientious objection to military service. I have not yet received a response from the Eritrean authorities. We will need lots and lots of tissues for that broadcast. One man who tried to escape from a military camp was kept in this position for two weeks, while a soldier who refused an order was tied for four hours. It hurt my heart to know that the best years of their lives were completely wasted in prison. Get the latest from our news, events and meetings. I have received information from credible sources that, as of November 2020, the situation of these refugees and asylum seekers has become more precarious and worrisome. On 27 January, six female prisoners who were detained in September 2020 in Dekemhare, south-east of Asmara, were also released. "[We] hope our desire to find a solution will be considered," he said. violence which may amount to crimes against humanity, war crimes and possibly Most of the prisoners were freed from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, near the capital, Asmara, on 1 February. "Some of those Witnesses have been imprisoned for more than 20 years. Witnesses, including the high-profile conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, UNESCO urges caution over fraudulent African artefacts sold in its name. According to July 2018 estimates by the US government, the total population of Eritrea is six million. All have maintained uncompromising integrity to Jehovah God. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is the leading United Nations entity in the field of human rights, with a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. Sixty-four of the Christians had no charges and some of them were jailed for worshipping in public. It is my honour to present my first oral update to the Council since taking up the role of Special Rapporteur last November 2020. 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. In a sudden turn of events, the man himself was put in prison. See brochure: SPECIAL REPORT: The Persecution of Jehovahs Witnesses in Eritrea.. 70 Christians released from three prisons | IIRF Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam imprisoned without charge or trial. And the e re at from a list. They would kill you for trying, or even crying, a 48-year-old woman named Zenebu who works as a healthcare worker and lives in Colorado but was trapped in Tigray for weeks while visiting her mother, was quoted as saying. I also ( suspiciously) wonder why this is happening now? The intention was for everyone to see.. Required fields are marked *. 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. paulos eyasu, isaac mogos and negede teklemariam released Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam are Je - hovah's Witnesses who are being held incommunicado by the State of Eritrea. Apparently one of the brothers being released. street, an event which was caught on camera and circulated via social media. Among other restrictions, Jehovahs Witnesses are not able to receive a full secular education, own a business, or travel outside of the country. Prior to independence, Eritrea allowed conscientious objectors to join an alternative civilian service group to fulfill their obligation.The Eritrean constitution, ratified in 1997, officially grants citizens the right to freedom of religion, but it has limitations. I am also concerned of the imapact of the national serice on the right to educaiton of Eritrean students. Kate Forbes: Would a Christian be permitted to lead Scotland. 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 . refugees from Hitsat and Shimelba camps are currently missing. The situation of detainees and political prisoners is particularly concerning. In recent years, several human rights bodies have expressed increasing concern over Eritrea's treatment of Jehovah's Witnesses. In addition, 39 men and 10 women who are . I was speaking with Jehovah, petitioning and giving all the reasons why their trial had to come to an end. The authorities systematically issued Certificates of Completed National Service and often praised participants for their work. both had been extensively and deliberately destroyed. A Quarter Century Unjustly Imprisoned in Eritrea - PR Newswire Their detention has also proven painful for friends and family, and one described his sorrow at losing his friend a quarter-century ago. 'Jesus Revolution' leaves out the tough stuff but gets the music right, Mark Wahlberg gives lessons on fasting during Lent, Sacked chaplain to appeal after losing employment tribunal case. Amazing news! I also ( suspiciously) wonder why this is happening now? Administrative Office 2525 W. Greenway Rd., Ste. re-designate Eritrea as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom; impose targeted sanctions on Eritrean government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom by freezing those individuals assets and/or barring their entry into the US under human rights related financial and visa authorities; use bilateral and multilateral diplomatic channels to urge the government of Eritrea to: release unconditionally detainees held on account of their religious activities; publish the registration law for religious groups along with clear guidelines for applying for or appealing decisions; end religious persecution of unregistered religious communities and grant full citizenship rights to Jehovahs Witnesses. 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. On December 4, 2020, 26 brothers and 2 sisters in Eritrea were set free after being imprisoned for their faith. 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. 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. I hope the Eritrean authorities will cooperate with my mandate and I am still awaiting their response. Finally, since my appointment, I have not yet had the opportunity to meet with Eritrean officials. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I call on Eritrean authorities to put an end to such treatments and comply with their international human rights obligations. Eritrea Imprisons Jehovah's Witnesses for Their Faith - JW.ORG Today or rather yesterday is going to be a good day and one to remember for a long time. I know he has not done anything wrong, and he has been suffering for so long, it really breaks my heart. Or is something happening on a global scale that we donot yet know about? On 1 February 2021, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons near Asmara. JW Eritrea:THESE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED IN ERITREA I remain willing to engage constructively with the Government of Eritrea on urgent human rights concerns. If you want to discuss this subject, we prefer that you start a new topic. Around 3,000 former residents of Shimelba and Hitsat have reportedly Eritrea is the center point of some of the most intense persecution of Jehovahs Witnesses in modern times. They are now aged 41, 40, and 38 respectively, having spent their youth in confinement. Jehovahs Witnesses will continue to inform government officials and others in authority about the situation in Eritrea. We have been working with them in the field ministry and I had the priviledge of having a public talk, translated into Amahric. This week marked 25 years in prison without charges or trial for three men in Eritrea. 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. 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. [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. trial, and should never have been incarcerated. Loopy Come On In, The Water Is Fine | Advanced Spine and Pain In Eritrea, Jehovahs Witnesses are in prison as conscientious objectors to military service, for holding underground religious meetings or for attempts to share their beliefs with others. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Turning to the issue of the human rights situation in Eritrea, since October 2020, I have seen no concrete evidence of progress or actual improvement in the human rights situation in the country. 70 Christians released from three prisons in Eastern Africa . I've also been praying for them by first name, when I learned they were imprisoned, for over 20 years at that time. Retreat, Spirituality and Pilgrimage Centres. paulos eyasu, isaac mogos and negede teklemariam released Christian Solidarity Worldwide has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds were recently released from three prisons in 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 in August by the Jehovah's Witnesses' Office of Public Information. . The new president declared that Eritrean-born Jehovahs Witnesses were no longer considered citizens primarily because they stood firm to their position of Christian neutrality by refusing to take part in National Service. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. My CO sentit to me. They were released after 26 years on February 5th, 2021. Sixty-four of the Christians had no charges and some of them were jailed for worshipping in public. Brothers Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam were released after 26 years of imprisonment.They were put in Prison for refusing Military Service. In March 2002, the country passed a referendum requiring all religious groups outside of the four largest the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Eritrean Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea and Sunni Islamto obtain yearly registrations. On 4 December 2020, the government released 24 Jehovahs Stay up to date with the latest Christian news! Apa Arti " PAULOS " Dalam Bahasa Indonesia Then from this day forward I will have a warm place in my heart for SARS-COVID-2. On 28 January 2021, in my letter to the Government of Ethiopia, I called on the Ethiopian authorities to protect the human rights of Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in the Tigray region, and to ensure respect for their rights under human rights law, international humanitarian law and international refugee law. However, since this presidential decree, security forces have imprisoned, tortured, and harassed Jehovahs Witnesses in an effort to force them to renounce their faith. 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. In this oral update, I request the Eritrean authorities to give me full access to refugees and asylum seekers allegedly held in various prisons inside Eritrea. After 19 years in detention, where is Dawit Isaak and when will he be released? As of September 17, 2019, three of the Witnesses, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, have been unjustly incarcerated for 25 years. ( As I have their names memorized)! I'm so excited for them and happy for those that have been waiting and waiting for them to come home. While in prison, this man saw firsthand that Jehovahs Witnesses live by what they teach. In Eritrea, the report mentioned that 52 Jehovah's Witnesses were in jail (as mentioned earlier, 28 were released on December 4). Eritrea has held three Jehovah's Witnesses in jail for 25 years Neither camp is The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Made me think of Joseph in prison, and how we never know what can happen. On 27 January 2021, six female prisoners detained for worshipping in public in September 2020 in Dekemhare, south-east of Asmara, were also released. I too was thinking about that same thing, what significance is this for Jehovah? , Amazing how Jehovah moved those authorities to release them - the officials are probably scratching their heads, wondering why. to the UN Third Committee in New York in October 2020. However, our community is not an official website of Jehovah's Witnesses. In a sudden turn of events, the man himself was put in prison. The trioidentified as Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariamhave been incarcerated in. 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 one in charge of a division or department.". 44th Session of the Human Rights Council: Interactive dialogue on On December 4, 2020, 26 brothers and 2 sisters in Eritrea were set free after being imprisoned for their faith. The freed prisoners include six women who were arrested on a street after worshipping in public.. Additionally, Jehovahs Witnesses develop missionary activities in close social networks and hold religious meetings in private homes, which is illegal. You can support our journalism by advertising with us or donating to ICN. That was the last time I saw my friend. The practice of arbitrary and incommunicado detentions in Eritrea has serious impact on the life of many Eritreans. Sorry for the Trouble. He has been imprisoned for the past 25 years. While in prison, this man saw firsthand that Jehovah's Witnesses live by what they teach. Encouragement for the Worldwide Brotherhood, Breaking News/Eritrea prisoners released (merged), JWTalk - Jehovah's Witnesses Online Community. However, this good news must not obscure the Eritrean regimes continued complicity in egregious violations of human rights, both within its own borders and now in Tigray.. On 1 February 2021, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons near Asmara. paulos eyasu, isaac mogos and negede teklemariam released Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Neither camp is currently accessible; however, in January 2021 satellite imagery revealed that both had been extensively and deliberately destroyed. In October last, 69 Christians had been released, apparently due to the Covid, but five more had been arrested. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. I am also concerned of the imapact of the national serice on the right to educaiton of Eritrean students. Estimates suggest that thousands of Eritrean soldiers have fought in the Tigray War on the side of the Ethiopian government.