CSW outcry at continued Eritrean Religious Persecutions

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has recently received reports that three Orthodox priests have been detained since the third week of November. The three are Dr Futsum Gebrenegus, a psychiatrist, Dr Tekeleab, a GP and Rev Gebremebhin. All three are Orthodox priests who have been involved in the renewal movement in Eritrea.

In 2002, the Eritrean government banned all denominations except three; the Orthodox, the Evangelical Lutheran and the Roman Catholic Church.

The arrests come as religious unrest continues in the region, and further highlights the religious liberty worries that are prominent in the country. CSW reported, "It shows the government is even prepared to restrict the activities of denominations which are officially authorised to function."

Eritrean security forces have consistently raided homes, and hundreds of Christians have been arrested over the recent spates of restrictive acts by the government, and those arrested have even included children being detained simply for carrying a Bible or for attending a Christian meeting.

CSW estimates that up to 400 Christians may be in prison in Eritrea at present, with many of those having already served greater than two years for unclear offences.

Eritrea is renowned for its high restrictions in religions, and in terms of religious liberties, the country is the third most repressed in the African continent, after only Somalia and Sudan.

The government of Eritrea has also had a history of serious human rights abuses. Since 1998 arbitrary mass rounding-ups have occurred towards people of enlistment ages, with the purpose to find 'draft-dodgers'.

This extreme repression of human rights ended in disaster on 4th November when the government indiscriminately rounded thousands of people up and detained them in an army camp outside the Asmara capital. Five guards were killed as one of the prison walls collapsed, and instigated random weapons fire by prison guards, resulting in between 20 and 50 more being killed and many more seriously injured.

In the wake of this incident the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the human rights abuses that had been made known in Eritrea. The country was demanded to arrange a full investigation, and express concern was made regarding the remaining prisoners from the incident.

Eritrea was told to fall in line with international human rights conventions, and to see that the eleven former members of the ruling party were set free, after being detained without charge since 2001.

However, a cold response came from the Eritrean government's Chief of Staff who dismissed the resolution as "extremely inappropriate". Yemane Gebremeskel went on to state that only two people had dies in the incident and that resolution would "only reduce the influence of the European Parliament."

The National Director of CSW, Stuart Windsor said, "The arrest of these three Orthodox priests shows yet again that the Eritrean authorities have little or no respect for religious freedom. The appalling incident and subsequent cover-up at Abi Abeito shows their disregard for human rights. We call on the international community to continue to put pressure on the Eritrean government to treat religious minorities and all its citizens in accordance with international human rights standards."