In addition, 39 men and 10 women who are Witnesses are also imprisoned. I was speaking with Jehovah, petitioning and giving all the reasons why their trial had to come to an end. Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been held for 26 years, and whose The releases also coincide with reports JW Eritrea:THESE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED IN ERITREA 1940s First communities of Jehovah's Witnesses are established in Eritrea. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. . [4], The Special Rapporteur urged the Government of Eritrea to engage in dialogue with this congregation and release those in prison. The Eritrean government's persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses goes back to the early 1990s, when the country became independent after a 1993 referendum. Jehovah's Witnesses Imprisoned for Their Faith By Location 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. Since there are no effective domestic legal procedures or remedies available to them, their imprisonment amounts to a de facto life sentence. High Commissioner said many refugees appear to have been caught in crossfire, 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]. I call on Eritrean authorities to put an end to such treatments and comply with their international human rights obligations. Sorry for the Trouble. of human rights, both within its own borders and now in Tigray. 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. 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. On 27 January 2021, six female prisoners detained for worshipping in public in September 2020 in Dekemhare, south-east of Asmara, were also released. Please click here to learn how. Three Jehovah's Witnesses, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, have been incarcerated for 25 years. in Tigray. ERITREA Our brothers - Heart of Jehovah's Witnesses | Facebook Information about Eritrea and the Horn of Africa, Source: UNhttps://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26795&LangID=E, Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights situation in Eritrea,Mr Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker, 46rd Session of the Human Rights Council. He noted their honesty and that they even shared their food with other prisoners. Wouldn't it be thrilling if Jehovah was securing their release because the Great Tribulation was about to start? Eritrean officials declined to attend a July hearing before the commission, in which the prisoners' lawyers said they would like to discuss a resolution to the case. The situation of detainees and political prisoners is particularly concerning. It is my honour to present my first oral update to the Council since taking up the role of Special Rapporteur last November 2020. The majority of the imprisoned male Jehovahs Witnesses are incarcerated indefinitely, with no hope of release until they die or are near death. street, an event which was caught on camera and circulated via social media. Search Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY Of the Jehovahs Witnesses currently imprisoned, 16 are known to have been arrested for conscientious objection to military service. If this is due to COVID-19 ( some news sources indicate others are being released for this reason). After 19 years in detention, where is Dawit Isaak and when will he be released? As a worldwide association of brothers, we rejoice over this development. All 52 Jehovahs Witnesses in prison in Eritrea have never been charged, appeared in court, or sentenced. Sixty-four of the Christians had no charges and some of them were jailed for worshipping in public. 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. ", In one case of torture at Sawa, a witness said unsuccessful deserters were tied to a corpse: One had been shot running away, the other two had their hands tied to the feet of the dead person. 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. They were focused on trying to take everything of value, she added, saying that they even stole diapers. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Among other restrictions, Jehovahs Witnesses are not able to receive a full secular education, own a business, or travel outside of the country. What a brilliant day this is for not just them but all of us that have prayed for them over the years. Since I started my mandate on 1 November 2020, I am monitoring the ongoing Tigray conflict in Ethiopia, which erupted on 4 November 2020, and its impact on the Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers. 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. Victory: 70 Christians Released From Three Eritrean Prisons On religious freedoms, I welcome the release of a large group of Christians. Dozens of Christians have been freed from prison in Eritrea after being held for years without charge.. The UN Human Rights Office and the mechanisms we support work on a wide range of human rights topics. 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 . 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. Today or rather yesterday is going to be a good day and one to remember for a long time. 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. Jehovah's Witnesses Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam have been imprisoned in Eritrea since 1994. In September, HRWF had published its report In Prison For Their Faith 2020. 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. Afewerkis policy of restrictions is more about his fear that religion will mobilize people as a political force than religion per se. 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. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. In my update today, I will focus on the (a) the human rights of Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in the context of the ongoing Tigray crisis in Ethiopia, which added a new complicated dynamic in monitoring the human rights of the Eritrean people, and (b) the progress made in relation to the benchmarks set out in the reports of my predecessor. 'It was very painful to lose such a friend': Jehovah's Witnesses This week marked 25 years in prison without charges or trial for three men in Eritrea. In September 2018, he was baptized as one of Jehovahs Witnesses. And the e re at from a list. If you have any questions about our services, or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us.. "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. If you want to discuss this subject, we prefer that you start a new topic. Habtemichael Tesfamariam died at the age of76 on 3 January and Habtemichael Mekonen died at the age of77 on 6 March. Eritrea is the center point of some of the most intense persecution of Jehovahs Witnesses in modern times. You can support our journalism by advertising with us or donating to ICN. Image copyright: Jehovah's Witnesses Office of Public Information. Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam imprisoned without charge or trial. On 1 February 2021, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons near Asmara. These are other examples of numerous cases of individuals who are currently languishing in Eritrean prisons, with no prospect of release. Many of the brothers and sisters who are in the Tigrinja Congeration in Oslo have family who have been prisoned. Christian Solidarity Worldwide has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds were recently released from three prisons in Eritrea. 70 Christians freed from prison in Eritrea Amazing news! We will continue to merge any new topics that are created about this Breaking News. currently accessible; however, in January 2021 satellite imagery revealed that Christian Solidarity Worldwide has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical and orthodox backgrounds were recently released from three prisons in Eritrea. On 1 February, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, close to the capital city, Asmara. Breaking News/Eritrea prisoners released (merged) - JWTalk Neither camp is currently accessible; however, in January 2021 satellite imagery revealed that both had been extensively and deliberately destroyed. and orthodox backgrounds were recently released from three prisons in Your email address will not be published. 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. 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 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. cases were highlighted by the former UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea in her Neither camp is 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. However, the Ethiopian government has denied the involvement of Eritrean soldiers in the conflict. We have been working with them in the field ministry and I had the priviledge of having a public talk, translated into Amahric. Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights 44th Session of the Human Rights Council: Interactive dialogue on They refuse to kill or receive training on how to kill. 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. PaulosEyassu, Isaac Mogos, Negede Teklamarium most of all. He was young and a person of impeccable character.". They were released after 26 years on February 5th, 2021. trial for periods of between two and 12 years. I call on Eritrean authorities to put an end to such treatments and comply with their international human rights obligations. In 2013, Amnesty International researcher Claire Beston called Eritrea "one of the most repressive, secretive and inaccessible countries in the world.". Eritrea: Seventy Christians released from three prisons Three young men; Isaac, Negede and Paulos; were 18 and 21 year old when they were arrested in September 24, 1994. orange and black striped caterpillar australia; why is wcco off the air. At the same time, we will continue to keep the 24 brothers and sisters who remain in prison in Eritrea in our thoughts and prayers.Acts 12:5. By In Eritrea, the report mentioned that 52 Jehovah's Witnesses were in jail (as mentioned earlier, 28 were released on December 4). paulos eyasu, isaac mogos and negede teklemariam releasedherramientas usadas para taller paulos eyasu, isaac mogos and negede teklemariam released. While the releases have been warmly welcomed, there is also speculation that they mark the latest effort by the Eritrean regime to distract international attention from the country's active role in the ongoing war in Ethiopia's Tigray region, where Eritrean troops have been accused of violence which may amount to crimes against humanity, war crimes and possibly genocide. Update: This article has been updated to reflect a clarification from Jehovah's Witnesses spokesperson Gilles Pichaud in his statement. 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. unfolding crisis in Tigray, including by imposing arms embargoes on the warring It is reported that approximately 60 to 65 per cent of students at Sawa do not obtain the results needed for further studies and are either drafted directly into military service or sent to vocational training programmes. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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 In total, over 50 Jehovah's Witnesses are currently imprisoned in Eritrea, and all are kept at Mai Serwa prison. Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam have been imprisoned in Eritrea since 1994. 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. On 4 December 2020, the government released 24 Jehovahs Eritrea has held three Jehovah's Witnesses in jail for 25 years I have not yet received a response from the Eritrean authorities. It was very painful to lose such a friend. Three brothersPaulos Eyassu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariamhave been in prison since September 1994, and the government has held another nine brothers for at least ten years. In my update today, I will focus on the (a) the human rights of Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers in the context of the ongoing Tigray crisis in Ethiopia, which added a new complicated dynamic in monitoring the human rights of the Eritrean people, and (b) the progress made in relation to the benchmarks set out in the reports of my predecessor. They include conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who have been held for 26 years. Saddleback Church doubles down on support for female pastors, Mormonisms slow shift away from demonizing working mothers, Faith leaders urge Biden to sign executive order for reparations study by Juneteenth, For many congregations, wiping out medical debt has become a popular calling, Copyright 2020, Religion News Service. I wonder if we'll learn at a later time the gravity of this And it has happened so suddenly! Esteemed Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Eritrea has failed to implement the recommendations issued by these authorities. Retreat, Spirituality and Pilgrimage Centres. On Dec. 4, the government released 24 Jehovahs Witnesses, including conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been held for 26 years. Funny story, last several days they were on my mind more than usual. that they mark the latest effort by the Eritrean regime to distract international 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." 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. Join us and make a difference. [emailprotected] After a quarter century of imprisonment, what happened to the Eritrean As of September 17, 2019, three of the Witnesses, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, have been unjustly incarcerated for 25 years. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. managed to reach Mai Aini, one of the two remaining camps for Eritrean refugees We call on the In the context of COVID-19, I call on Eritrean authorities to release those particularly vulnerable, including older detainees and those who are sick. 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. We will all keep watching closely for the latest developments. Ive prayed for these brothers and sisters ( often by name ) for many years. 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/. Most of the prisoners were freed from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, near the capital, Asmara, on 1 February. This week marked 25 years in prison without charges or trial for three men in Eritrea. 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. Turning to the issue of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, there has been no progress. They may be third world/developing countries, but youd be shocked how wide-spread cellph. And the e re at from a list. It is not endorsed, sponsored, or maintained by any legal entity used by Jehovah's Witnesses. ( As I have their names memorized)! The practice of arbitrary and incommunicado detentions in Eritrea has serious impact on the life of many Eritreans. On 27 January, six female prisoners who were detained in September 2020 in Dekemhare, south-east of Asmara, were also released. We need your help to continue this work. Since I started my mandate on 1 November 2020, I am monitoring the ongoing Tigray conflict in Ethiopia, which erupted on 4 November 2020, and its impact on the Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers. What will happen to immigrants admitted through Bidens illegal parole program? He was a very honest, hardworking, upright man. 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. We also call for urgent action to arrest the She saw trucks being loaded with boxes of looted items that were to be delivered to places in Eritrea. Gilles Pichaud 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. forcibly returned to Eritrea from two camps in Tigray, many of whom were allegedly Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1991 after 30 years of continuous armed struggle by the Eritrean Liberation Front. Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion. This is fantastically great news when so little news is good. Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam are Je - hovah's Witnesses who are being held incommunicado by the State of Eritrea. 300 | Phoenix, AZ 85023 We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. Paulos Eyassu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, among others, have been imprisoned for over 20 years for their Christian faith. 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. Thus, when the Witnesses contacted him, he immediately began to study the Bible with them and to attend their meetings. I am concerned that the conditions in the camp have impact on the right to education. ", 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.
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