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 (London
10-07-07) In an interview given to an Italian writer Mr Yemane Gebremeskel,
Director of the Office of the President of Eritrea, denied any religious
persecution in the country. Responding to a question regarding mass arrests of
believers Mr Gebremeskel stated that; ‘small groups have emerged in the past
seven, eight years. Most of these groups were beneficiaries of secret or
undeclared foreign funds. Most of them went against the national fabric: to
oppose the national service or to penetrate and sow division within the
traditional faiths. The Government subsequently requested all these faiths to
register officially, with honest declaration of the origin of their funds etc.
The periodic arrests, which are distorted and exaggerated, occur when members of
these fringe groups assemble illegally.’
However facts in Eritrea clearly demonstrate that the
arrests and denial of freedom of worship far from being limited to small or new
groups is a universal one aimed at curtailing freedom of worship to all. Among
the churches that were shut in 2002 for operating without registration were; The
Seventh Day Adventist, The Faith Mission, Kale Hiwot and Muluwengel. Each of
these Churches have been operational in Eritrea for periods spanning between 50
and a 100 years. Every single one of these churches has had members arrested and
harassed having been detained at various occasions including family prayers and
wedding ceremonies.
Moreover in a widely publicised case, the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of
Eritrea, who is the legal head of the Church with followers accounting for 40%
of the Eritrean populace is under house arrest having been illegally deposed by
a government sanctioned interference in the operation of the church.
Release- Eritrea is dismayed at the continued denial and the deliberate
distortion of facts that the government of Eritrea continues to convey. In a
statement the Director of Release- Eritrea UK, Dr Berhane Asmelash stated; ‘ it
is unfortunate that yet again the government of Eritrea has chosen the path of
denial and distortion rather that carry out a reality check in assessing the
damage both to the image of the country, but perhaps more importantly to the
lives of thousands of innocent Eritreans who continue to face a daily barrage of
harassment, arrests, torture and even death in prison just for having a
Christian faith. I am particularly shocked to hear Mr Gebremeskel putting the
life-span of these churches to about seven or eight years when infact every
Eritrean knows the long-standing contribution of these churches to the nation
including the independence struggle and also during the border conflict in 1998’
Speaking about the accusation of foreign funding and refusal of National Service
Dr Asmelash stated; ‘ again I am surprised that Mr Gebremeskel chose this path;
five years after the closure of these churches and several years after the
government has combed through the accounts and operations, no one has been able
to produce a shred of evidence to support this accusation. On the issue of
National Service it is suffice to say that the severe form of persecution infact
started and continues to be carried out at the various training camps, if these
churches were opposing the National Service what is the explanation for the huge
numbers represented in the army?’
Meanwhile Release-Eritrea has learnt that Pastor Michael Abraha, who was
detained following a dawn raid at a home near Dekemhare, at the end of May, has
been released, together with many of those who were detained at the same time.
It is to be remembered that during that particular dawn raid several people,
belonging to kalw hiwot Church, including young children were dragged out of
their beds and arrested. Contacts in Asmara have however conveyed that some
believers who went to visit those detained at the dawn raid were detained and
have been taken to the prisons at Wea military training camp, the desert camp
prison is notorious for its harsh conditions including lack of clean drinking
water.
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