Of the Jehovahs Witnesses currently imprisoned, 16 are known to have been arrested for conscientious objection to military service. "Some of those Witnesses have been imprisoned for more than 20 years. of all those detained arbitrarily on account of their religion or belief. 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]. "Our families spent the whole evening together. He has been imprisoned for the past 25 years. The authorities systematically issued Certificates of Completed National Service and often praised participants for their work. It hurt my heart to know that the best years of their lives were completely wasted in prison. . 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. While in prison, this man saw firsthand that Jehovahs Witnesses live by what they teach. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1991 after 30 years of continuous armed struggle by the Eritrean Liberation Front. This is awesome news. 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 Reports indicate that, in recent weeks, Eritrea has released 70 jailed Christians of evangelical and orthodox who were held in three prisons. 25 padziernika 1994 roku prezydent Afewerki wyda dekret, ktry pozbawi wiadkw Jehowy praw obywatelskich, poniewa w roku 1993 nie wzili udziau w referendum . Eritrea. [emailprotected] Ten other men have been in prison for over ten years. WARWICK, N.Y., Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Eritrea is the center point of some of the most intense persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses in modern times. The JW's doctrine of political neutrality has led to imprisonment of members who refused conscription. It is my honour to present my first oral update to the Council since taking up the role of Special Rapporteur last November 2020. 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 . street, an event which was caught on camera and circulated via social media. In the context of COVID-19, I call on Eritrean authorities to release those particularly vulnerable, including older detainees and those who are sick. . We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. Paulos Eyasu, Negede Teklemariam, and Isaac Mogos are Jehovah's Witnesses and have been imprisoned because of their strongly held religious beliefs. Four others died in prison and three died after release, reportedly as a result of their treatment. With no beauracracy or lengthy procedure - just released suddenly! PaulosEyassu, Isaac Mogos, Negede Teklamarium most of all. https://www.jw.org/en/news/jw/#newsAlerts, Trimis de pe al meu Redmi Note 4 folosind Tapatalk, This so wonderful for our brothers!!!! As our audience increases - so do our costs. None of the three have been charged or granted a hearing. Human Rights Watch reported this was "the most common torture method noted by former conscripts and detainees, practiced in all the prisons and in Wi'a and Sawa military camps. 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. 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 . She saw trucks being loaded with boxes of looted items that were to be delivered to places in Eritrea. We need your help to continue this work. In September, HRWF had published its report In Prison For Their Faith 2020. 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]. 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/. Amazing news! Eritrea has been designated a "country of particular concern" by the State Department since 2004 because of its religious freedom abuses. Sixty-four of the Christians had no charges and some of them were jailed for worshipping in public. 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. Update: This article has been updated to reflect a clarification from Jehovah's Witnesses spokesperson Gilles Pichaud in his statement. 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. ultimate responsibility for human rights violations that are allegedly being I've also been praying for them by first name, when I learned they were imprisoned, for over 20 years at that time. They were paraded round the camp in the back of a Toyota pickup truck. 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. On December 4, 2020, 26 brothers and 2 sisters in Eritrea were set free after being imprisoned for their faith. I am also concerned of the imapact of the national serice on the right to educaiton of Eritrean students. Afewerkis policy of restrictions is more about his fear that religion will mobilize people as a political force than religion per se. However, our community is not an official website of Jehovah's Witnesses. 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. Paulos Eyassu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam, among others, have been imprisoned for over 20 years for their Christian faith. And when will the authorities release Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, three conscientious . 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 in August by the Jehovah's Witnesses' Office of Public Information. For years, I prayed for the three brothers in Eritrea who were imprisoned for their faith longer than anyone else in JW history: Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and Negede Teklemariam. "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. 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. 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. Today or rather yesterday is going to be a good day and one to remember for a long time. In their August report, the Jehovah's Witnesses called on Eritrea to release the 52 prisoners, grant full citizenship rights to Jehovah's Witnesses, and permit conscientious objection to military service. 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In September 2018, he was baptized as one of Jehovahs Witnesses. Alex Murdaugh trial: Murderer sentenced to consecutive life sentences after being found guilty. Some of the prisoners had been held without charge or trial for up to 12 years. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. On 18 December 2020, I requested an invitation to undertake an official visit to Eritrea in my capacity as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. At Sawa, Mai Serwa, and other prisons and camps, detainees are often held in shipping containers. On 1 February, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. The prisoners had been held between two and 12 years. In addition, 39 men and 10 women who are Witnesses are also imprisoned. Habtemichael Tesfamariam died at the age of76 on 3 January and Habtemichael Mekonen died at the age of77 on 6 March. The president also stripped them of basic civil rights. ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community. trial, and should never have been incarcerated. It is not endorsed, sponsored, or maintained by any legal entity used by Jehovah's Witnesses. Sixty-four of the Christians had no charges and some of them were jailed for worshipping in public. However, this good news must It is difficult to speak of progress in Eritrea while their cases remain unresolved. He noted their honesty and that they even shared their food with other prisoners. According to reports, four . Interesting article from the Experiences of Jehovahs Witnesses series. Their detention has also proven painful for friends and family, and one described his sorrow at losing his friend a quarter-century ago. Such allegations need to be investigated promptly and thoroughly by independent mechanisms. 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. The UN Human Rights Office and the mechanisms we support work on a wide range of human rights topics. I have tears in my eyes while at work. This week marked 25 years in prison without charges or trial for three men in Eritrea. cases were highlighted by the former UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea in her As a result, Witnesses are not allowed to hold government identity cards or business licenses, or to complete high school. I too was thinking about that same thing, what significance is this for Jehovah? I have not yet received a response from the Eritrean authorities. Most of the prisoners were freed from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, near the capital, Asmara, on 1 February. A proper head is, as Webster's New Third International Dictionary describes, "one who stands in relation to others somewhat as the head does to other members of the body . Soon after Eritrea gained independence in 1993, President Isaias Afwerki began a crackdown on religious groups he felt opposed to the state. from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons, close to the capital city, Asmara. 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. by admin_HRWF | Dec 4, 2020 | Uncategorized. They include conscientious objectors Paulos Eyasu, Isaac Mogos and Negede Teklemariam, who have been held for 26 years. 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. The intention was for everyone to see.. 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. Eritrea is the center point of some of the most intense persecution of Jehovahs Witnesses in modern times. "I was with him the night before they arrested him," said Eyasu's friend, who asked for anonymity for protection. Authorities arrested Eyasu, Mogos and Teklemariam on September 17, 1994, but formal charges were never filed and they've never come before the court. He was a very honest, hardworking, upright man. 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. Tradues em contexto de "acusaes em julgamento" en portugus-espanhol da Reverso Context : Logo, o ru no ter que responder. On 1 February 2021, 21 female and 43 male prisoners were released from Mai Serwa and Adi Abeito prisons near Asmara. Zenebu detailed how she looked on as she saw Eritrean soldiers loot the belongings from residents homes. And the e re at from a list. They are now in their late 30's-early 40's and still in prison. 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. I wonder if we'll learn at a later time the gravity of this And it has happened so suddenly! both had been extensively and deliberately destroyed. 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. Funny story, last several days they were on my mind more than usual. orange and black striped caterpillar australia; why is wcco off the air. Four Witness men have died while in prison, and three died after they were released because of the harsh conditions they suffered. Acts 5:19 But at night Jehovah's angel opened the prison doors and led them out .Jehovah is in control, and at his appointed time . we are so happy on their behalf and yours. The practice of arbitrary and incommunicado detentions in Eritrea has serious impact on the life of many Eritreans. 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. Theshouts of praise and sayings of gratitude to Jehovah from his heavenly and earthly children!! isaac mogos and negede teklemariam released . Required fields are marked *. Vote Religious Freedom Updates Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. Unconfirmed reports have suggested that there have been a series of fatal assaults committed against citizens in Tigray, a predominantly-Christian northernmost region of Ethiopia. My CO sentit to me. Prior to independence, Eritrea allowed conscientious objectors to join an alternative civilian service group to fulfill their obligation.The Eritrean constitution, ratified in 1997, officially grants citizens the right to freedom of religion, but it has limitations. Reports indicate that, in recent weeks, Eritrea has released 70 jailed Christians of evangelical and orthodox who were held in three prisons. I urge the Eritrean authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all of those who remain in prison because of their faith or belief. 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. I canimagine a broadcast in the coming months containinginterviews with these faithful brothers and sisters. Jehovahs Witnesses are politically neutral and conscientiously cannot participate in military service. Please click here to learn how. In March 2002, the country passed a referendum requiring all religious groups outside of the four largest the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Eritrean Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea and Sunni Islamto obtain yearly registrations. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. I know he has not done anything wrong, and he has been suffering for so long, it really breaks my heart. 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. ", Pichaud added that while the trio have been pressured to deny their faith in return for freedom, "they are not bitter against the authorities.". Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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.