Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Jehovahs Witnesses behind bars: some statistics. Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam have been imprisoned in Eritrea since 1994. Stand up for Human Rights. 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. Some of the prisoners had been held without charge or trial for up to 12 years. Jehovah's Witnesses: The World's Most Persecuted Religion (845) 744-6000, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, who have been in prison in Eritrea since September 17, 1994. 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. "The courage of these three men, along with the other 39 men and 10 women, imprisoned in Eritrea for refusing to compromise their faith have been an inspiration to Jehovah's Witnesses all around the world," Pichaud told Newsweek, adding that the church has requested a meeting with President Afwerki. 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. ( As I have their names memorized)! That they were released just now and so many of them. Their detention has also proven painful for friends and family, and one described his sorrow at losing his friend a quarter-century ago. 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. Eritrea has not yet put in place an institutional and legal framework to uphold minimum human rights standards in a democratic society. 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. 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. The JW's doctrine of political neutrality has led to imprisonment of members who refused conscription. Eritrea has held three Jehovah's Witnesses in jail for 25 years 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 . 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 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. to the UN Third Committee in New York in October 2020. 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. Just shows how things can change for the better all of a sudden. Among other restrictions, Jehovahs Witnesses are not able to receive a full secular education, own a business, or travel outside of the country. However, since this presidential decree, security forces have imprisoned, tortured, and harassed Jehovahs Witnesses in an effort to force them to renounce their faith. of human rights, both within its own borders and now in Tigray. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. Police arrested others who were attending Christian meetings or publicly sharing their faith. 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. While in prison, this man saw firsthand that Jehovah's Witnesses live by what they teach. , Amazing how Jehovah moved those authorities to release them - the officials are probably scratching their heads, wondering why. Tradues em contexto de "acusaes em julgamento" en portugus-espanhol da Reverso Context : Logo, o ru no ter que responder. 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. As our audience increases - so do our costs. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. CSW has been informed that 70 Christians from evangelical News in Brief 1 July 2020 | | UN News Sixty-four of the Christians had no charges and some of them were jailed for worshipping in public. They refuse to kill or receive training on how to kill. In addition, 39 men and 10 women who are Witnesses are also imprisoned. ERITREA Our brothers - Heart of Jehovah's Witnesses | Facebook On 27 January, six female prisoners who were detained in What's wrong with the House of Bishops' proposed same-sex prayers? Most of the prisoners were freed from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, near the capital, Asmara, on 1 February. 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 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. Soon after Eritrea gained independence in 1993, President Isaias Afwerki began a crackdown on religious groups he felt opposed to the state. What is the source ? 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). abducted and forced to return to Eritrea under duress by Eritrean forces., CSWs Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: CSW welcomes On Dec. 4, the government released 24 Jehovah's Witnesses, including conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who had been held for 26 years. 'It was very painful to lose such a friend': Jehovah's Witnesses I also ( suspiciously) wonder why this is happening now? Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. This week marked 25 years in prison without charges or trial for three men in Eritrea. With one recent exception, those imprisoned have never had the opportunity to offer a defence in court. detained. [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. As of September 17, 2019, three of the Witnesses, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, have been unjustly incarcerated for 25 years. Turning to the issue of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, there has been no progress. violence which may amount to crimes against humanity, war crimes and possibly Furthermore, Jehovahs Witnesses decline to participate in political elections. CSW said they were detained without charge or trial, and "should never have been incarcerated". trial, and should never have been incarcerated. They are now aged 41, 40, and 38 respectively, having spent their youth in confinement. In Eritrea, the report mentioned that 52 Jehovah's Witnesses were in jail (as mentioned earlier, 28 were released on December 4). one in charge of a division or department.". However, this good news must 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. Eritrea: Seventy Christians released from three prisons | ICN Since gaining independence, Eritrea's government has required indefinite national service by physically able adults between 18 and 70 years of age. As of September 17, 2019, three of the Witnesses, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, have been unjustly incarcerated for 25 years. dallas stars skating academy ballet rosa ambassador. 300 | Phoenix, AZ 85023 These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 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. 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. 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]. . that they mark the latest effort by the Eritrean regime to distract international While in prison, this man saw firsthand that Jehovahs Witnesses live by what they teach. It is difficult to speak of progress in Eritrea while their cases remain unresolved. Gilles Pichaud Reports indicate that, in recent weeks, Eritrea has released 70 jailed Christians of evangelical and orthodox who were held in three prisons. On 1 February 2021, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons near Asmara. . It was very painful to lose such a friend. Therefore, they do not know when they will be released. from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, close to the capital city, Asmara. The country is ruled by a totalitarian one-party dictatorship of Maoist inspiration. "We feel deeply for Isaac, Negede, and Paulos, who have suffered harsh conditions for more than half their lives for refusing military service," Jehovah's Witnesses spokesperson Gilles Pichaud told Newsweek. What will happen to immigrants admitted through Bidens illegal parole program? Three Jehovah's Witnesses, Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, have been incarcerated for 25 years. in Tigray. On religious freedoms, I welcome the release of a large group of Christians. And when will the authorities release Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, three conscientious objectors held for 26 years? 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. We need your help to continue this work. Eritrea's military abducted the victims with- out warrant or legitimate cause on September 17, 1994, ap- parently because they conscientiously objected to military service. That was the last time I saw my friend. Eritrea has not yet put in place an institutional and legal framework to uphold minimum human rights standards in a democratic society. The practice of arbitrary and incommunicado detentions in Eritrea has serious impact on the life of many Eritreans. It's well past the time they were released. Jehovahs Witnesses will continue to inform government officials and others in authority about the situation in Eritrea. 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. "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.". Ethiopia: Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human Is it related to the Civil war in Ethiopia? "Some of those Witnesses have been imprisoned for more than 20 years. These are other examples of numerous cases of individuals who are currently languishing in Eritrean prisons, with no prospect of release. I have tears in my eyes while at work. 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.. that have emerged consistently since December 2020 of thousands of refugees being This is awesome news. ", Pichaud added that while the trio have been pressured to deny their faith in return for freedom, "they are not bitter against the authorities.". 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. 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. Zenebu detailed how she looked on as she saw Eritrean soldiers loot the belongings from residents homes. 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. 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 Wouldn't it be thrilling if Jehovah was securing their release because the Great Tribulation was about to start? In October last, 69 Christians had been released, apparently due to the Covid, but five more had been arrested. 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. The freed prisoners include six women who were arrested on a street after worshipping in public.. Kate Forbes: Would a Christian be permitted to lead Scotland. Victory: 70 Christians Released From Three Eritrean Prisons In addition, they cannot apply to travel abroad. 70 Christians released from three prisons | IIRF Cant wait to hear more about this. galaxy s22 ultra s view flip cover support@missionbadlaav.com; withings account already exists Menu. These are other examples of numerous cases of individuals who are currently languishing in Eritrean prisons, with no prospect of release. I know he has not done anything wrong, and he has been suffering for so long, it really breaks my heart. Update: This article has been updated to reflect a clarification from Jehovah's Witnesses spokesperson Gilles Pichaud in his statement. Free Paulos Eyassu, Negede Teklemariam, and Isaac Mogos - Facebook On 1 February 2021, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons near Asmara. This year has really had a lot of unexpected events. 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. Now for the rest of our brothers and sister's to come on out!!! and orthodox backgrounds were recently released from three prisons in Brothers Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam were released after 26 years of imprisonment.They were put in Prison for refusing Military Service. "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. We will continue to merge any new topics that are created about this Breaking News. 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. 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. Jehovah's Witnesses Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam have been imprisoned in Eritrea since 1994. 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. It hurt my heart to know that the best years of their lives were completely wasted in prison. However, the Ethiopian government has denied the involvement of Eritrean soldiers in the conflict. Funny story, last several days they were on my mind more than usual. In the context of COVID-19, I call on Eritrean authorities to release those particularly vulnerable, including older detainees and those who are sick. There he found himself with three WitnessesPaulos Eyasu, Negede Teklemariam, and Isaac Mogoswho had been incarcerated for their faith since 1994. Is it related to the Civilwar in Ethiopia? December 4, 2020 in JW.org Press Releases & JW's in the News, BREAKING NEWS| Eritrea Releases 28 Jehovahs Witnesses From Prison 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. 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 According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, approximately 20,000 refugees from Hitsat and Shimelba camps are currently missing. 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. ", 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. Because they will not participate in compulsory military service, Eritrean authorities consider them to be opposed to the regime. My CO sentit to me. PaulosEyassu, Isaac Mogos, Negede Teklamarium most of all. 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.