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Five years after the government of Eritrea closed down all independent
religious groups not operating under the umbrella of the four
government-sanctioned faiths, Jehovah's Witnesses continue to face stiff
opposition. Their worship, even in private homes, is considered to be
outside the recognized religious institutions, making the Witnesses subject
to arrest, torture, and severe pressure to deny their faith.
Summary
Five years after the government of Eritrea closed down all independent
religious groups not operating under the umbrella of the four
government-sanctioned faiths, Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to face stiff
opposition. Their worship, even in private homes, is considered to be
outside the recognized religious institutions, making the Witnesses subject
to arrest, torture, and severe pressure to deny their faith.
As of April 2007, 24 of Jehovah’s Witnesses were still in prison for
their religious beliefs. Some were arrested while
attending Christian meetings, others while they were sharing their faith
with others in public, and still others for conscientious objection to military service. Three
imprisoned Witnesses are 60 years old or older. Two women are currently
incarcerated.
Tekle Tesfai, an Eritrean by birth but a citizen of the Netherlands, was arrested and imprisoned on May 27, 2005. He is 73 years old. He is
emaciated from malnutrition, and his health is poor. Tesfai’s relatives are
working through the Dutch Embassy to try to have him released. Jailed
members of Christian religions that have been decreed illegal are required
to renounce their faith before they will be released.
In addition, those who remain politically neutral and will not serve in
the military for
religious reasons are jailed in poor conditions. This is the situation of
ten of the Witnesses who are imprisoned. Three of these conscientious
objectors have been in prison for well over 12 years, since 1994. Their
“crime” is taking literally the Biblical directive not to “learn war
anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4, Micah 4:3)
Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot receive more than an 8th grade education in Eritrea. When students register for high school in 9th grade, they are also required to
register for national service. Upon completing the 11th grade, high school
students are obliged to go to Sawa military camp
to complete their 12th-grade education. The government recently established
a school in Sawa, under military
supervision, so that the students can finish the 12th grade while they get
the military
training. While there, the students remain separated from their families
for the year. Furthermore, parents are expected to hand over to authorities
any child who has registered for high school but is unable to complete his
education through the 11th grade. If parents do not hand over a child to
the authorities or if they refuse to do so, they are subject to detention
or a fine of 50,000 nakfa ($3,333 U.S.) per child. Recently the authorities
issued a decree that any male student who is more than 18 years old must
leave his studies and report to Assab military camp. Therefore, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not
register for a high school education in order not to compromise their
religiously motivated stand to refrain from participation in military training or
service.
For many years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have attempted to help their
Eritrean brothers through visits and appeals to officials at the U.S.
Department of State, European foreign ministries, and Eritrean embassies,
particularly in Germany, Italy, and the U.S.A. The Witnesses have also made
repeated attempts to send a delegation of Jehovah’s Witnesses to Asmara, without success to date.
Some have described the “siege-like” military atmosphere that Eritrea has experienced since 1993 and believe that the 1993 national referendum and the
issue of military
service are the two principal reasons for the government’s stance toward
Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses are known internationally
for being politically neutral and for their conscientious objection to military service. Their
conviction consistently remains that love of neighbor is a core tenet of
true Christianity.— Matthew 22:37-39; John 13:34, 35; 15:19.
Abuses of religious freedom
In 1994, Eritrea’s president decreed that Jehovah’s Witnesses had
revoked their citizenship by not participating in the national referendum
and not participating in military
service. He therefore decreed that Jehovah’s Witnesses were not allowed to
work in any government offices; he revoked their business licenses and
rescinded their identity cards and travel documents. This mistreatment
continues until the present and has created great economic hardship and, in
the case of some, long-term imprisonment. Then in May 2002, the government
closed down all religious groups not part of the recognized Orthodox,
Catholic, Protestant, or Muslim faiths.
Since 1995, approximately 250 families who are Jehovah’s Witnesses have
fled Eritrea and sought asylum outside the country because of the
hardships. At least 100 Jehovah’s Witnesses lost their employment because
of their religion, and this has affected more than 300 persons.
Thirty-eight Jehovah’s Witnesses were denied their business licenses.
Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot be issued national identity cards, and thus they
cannot purchase land for homes, legalize their marriages, and receive
driver’s licenses, passports, or other travel documents. At least 37
families have been expelled from their homes. And because of societal and
governmental pressure, Jehovah’s Witnesses have problems renting homes.
Additionally, since 1998, 31 children who are Jehovah’s Witnesses were
expelled from school because they refused to buy a membership ticket of the
political party called NUEYS (National Union of Eritrean Youths and
Students) and refused to salute the flag.
The national identity card application requires that the applicant
identify his religion. Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot write “Jehovah’s
Witnesses” because the government has banned their religion. If Jehovah’s
Witnesses fill in “Christian,” which correctly characterizes their beliefs
since they strive to live as footstep followers of Jesus Christ, the
Eritrean authorities reject the application. The authorities accept only
Orthodox, Catholic, or Protestant religions as “Christian.”
Another requirement that bars Jehovah’s Witnesses from receiving the
national identity card is the requirement to complete national service.
Since the Witnesses do not train for war, they are denied the identity
papers.
Plight of conscientious objectors
The national military
service requirement has no regulations or provisions for conscientious
objection. To avoid being arrested by the ever-present MPs who patrol the
streets, most young men who are Jehovah’s Witnesses between the ages of 18
and 40 are in hiding. If arrested, they are taken to a military camp, where they are
detained, severely beaten, and are forced to undergo various other forms of
torture.
Three of Jehovah’s Witnesses—Paulos Eyassu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede
Teklemariam—have been imprisoned since September 24, 1994. They are in the Sawa prison camp
because of their conscientious objection to military service for religious reasons. The
usual prison term for such a “crime” is three years. They are denied any
visitors, including their families. No charges have been filed against them
and they have never been given a trial. If they had been brought to trial
and convicted, they would have been long-since freed.
They and the other 21 prisoners shown on the last page of this report
wish only to be productive, useful members of their communities, while
still having their Christian beliefs and consciences respected.
The UN Commission on Human Rights issued Resolution 1989/59, on March 8,
1989, which stated: “The Commission on Human Rights (1) recognizes the
right of everyone to have conscientious objections to military service as a
legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and
religion as laid down in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, as well as article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights; (2) Appeals to States to enact legislation and to take
measures aimed at exemption from military service on the basis of a genuinely held
conscientious objection to armed service . . .”
Eritrea’s lawful obligations
International and domestic laws already in place relevant to conditions
in Eritrea
- The Eritrean Constitution, adopted in July 1996,
guarantees in Article 14 (2): “No person may be discriminated against
on account of . . . religion . . . or any other
factors.” Article 19 (1) states: “Every person shall have the right to
freedom of thought, conscience and belief.” Article 19 (4) guarantees:
“Every person shall have the freedom to practice any religion and to
manifest such practice.” (These quotes are from the draft text of the
Constitution.)
- UN Resolution 1466 (2003) (adopted by the Security
Council at its 4719th meeting on March 14, 2003) states: “The Security
Council . . . reiterating the need for both parties [Eritrea
and Ethiopia] to fulfil their obligations under international law,
including international humanitarian law, human rights law
. . .”
- The Eritrea government considers that Jehovah's
Witnesses have no rights since they are considered to have renounced
their citizenship by not participating in the national referendum nor
in national service. However, notice the emphasis on the rights below
guaranteed to all without distinction of having citizenship or not.
- Eritrea became a member of the United Nations and
accepted the obligations contained in its charter on May 28, 1993. The Charter states in Article 1 (3) that one purpose of the United Nations
is to promote and encourage “respect for human rights and for
fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex,
language, or religion.”
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees
in Article 1: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act
towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” Article 2 states:
“Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this
Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as . . .
religion . . . or other status.” And Article 18 states:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and
religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or
belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in
public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching,
practice, worship and observance.”
- In the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
(ratified by Eritrea on January 14, 1999), Article 2 guarantees:
“Every individual shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the rights and
freedoms recognized and guaranteed in the present Charter without
distinction of any kind such as . . . religion,
. . . or other status.” Article 8 guarantees: “Freedom of
conscience, the profession and free practice of religion shall be
guaranteed. No one may, subject to law and order, be submitted to
measures restricting the exercise of these freedoms.”
- The President of Eritrea was among 53 heads of African
States who agreed to and adopted the Constitutive Act of the African
Union on July 11, 2000. (This Act entered into force on May 26, 2001.) Article 3 states: “The objectives of the Union shall be to . . .
'Encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the
Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights; [and] (h) Promote and protect human and peoples' rights in
accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and
other relevant human rights instruments.'”
Conclusion
The foregoing shows that a mechanism is already in place internationally
and domestically for justice in the form of freedom of worship to exist in Eritrea. Nonetheless, Jehovah's Witness families are still fleeing the country for asylum;
severe torture and extreme brutality are even now being reported.
Of the most egregious long-term infractions Eritrea has yet to answer
for is the incarceration of Paulos Eyassu, Negede Teklemariam, and Isaac
Mogos. All three men are Jehovah's Witnesses who are conscientious
objectors to military
service. They were imprisoned in September 1994 and are in the notorious
Sawa Prison Camp.
Eyewitnesses and former inmates of the Sawa Camp describe the harsh prison conditions as
those most often associated with a concentration camp. The confinement of these three
men is now four times the maximum sentence outlined by Eritrean law for
refusing to perform military
service. The release of these men is long overdue!
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Name of Prisoner
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Age
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Gender
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Prison
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Date of Imprisonment
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Reason for Arrest
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Paulos Eyassu
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35
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male
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Sawa Camp
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September 24, 1994
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Conscientious objection
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Negede Teklemariam
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34
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male
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Sawa Camp
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September 24, 1994
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Conscientious objection
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Isaac Mogos
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32
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male
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Sawa Camp
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September 24, 1994
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Conscientious objection
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Aron Abraha
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34
|
male
|
Sawa Camp
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May 9, 2001
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Conscientious objection
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Mussie Fessehaye
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36
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male
|
Sawa Camp
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June 2003
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Conscientious objection
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Asmerom Beraki
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52
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male
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Mai
Serwa
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January 24, 2004
|
Religious meeting
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Tsegabirhan Berhe
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43
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male
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Sawa Camp
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January 24, 2004
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Religious meeting
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Yemane Tsegay
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43
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male
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Mai
Serwa
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January 24, 2004
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Religious meeting
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Rebka Ghebretinsaye
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41
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female
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Mai
Serwa
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January 24, 2004
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Religious meeting
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Akberet Ghebremichael
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32
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female
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Mai
Serwa
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January 24, 2004
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Religious meeting
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Ambakom Tsegezab
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32
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male
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Sawa Camp
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February 2004
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Conscientious objection
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Tekle Kebede
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56
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male
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Mai
Serwa
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June 2004
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Father of escapee
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Hagos Woldemichael
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54
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male
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Mai
Serwa
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June 2004
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Visited family of escapee
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Fesseha Ghebrezadik
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23
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male
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Sembel Prison Asmara
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June 2004
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Religious teaching (4-year sentence)
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Bemnet Fessehaye
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37
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male
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Sawa Camp
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February 2005
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Conscientious objection
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Henok Ghebru
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24
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male
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Sawa Camp
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February 2005
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Conscientious objection
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Worede Kiros
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51
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male
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Sawa Camp
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May 4, 2005
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Religious teaching
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Tekle Tesfai
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73
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male
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Sembel Prison Asmara
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May 27, 2005
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Religious teaching (5-year sentence)
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Yonathan Yonas
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22
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male
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Sawa Camp
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November 12, 2005
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Religious teaching
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Ghebrenigus Habte
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60
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male
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Mai
Serwa
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December 12, 2005
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Religious teaching
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Kibreab Fessehaye
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30
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male
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Sawa Camp
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December 27, 2005
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Conscientious objection
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Bereket Abraha Oqbagabir
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40
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male
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Sawa Camp
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January 1, 2006
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Conscientious objection
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Ghebru Birhane
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57
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male
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Mai
Serwa
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March 5, 2006
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Religious teaching
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Tekleab Tesfamichael
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76
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male
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Mai
Serwa
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July 4, 2006
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Religious teaching
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Country
Report Prepared by:
Office of Public Information
25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201-2483
Fax: (718) 560-5619
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