Wednesday, June 29, 2005

ERITREAN SECURITY FORCES DETAIN 80 CHRISTIAN STUDENTS AT AN END OF TERM PARTY

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

ASMARA, ERITREA (ANS) -- Release Eritrea!, a human rights group that is fighting to restore freedom of religion to the people of Eritrea and release for those imprisoned for their faith, has said that sources in Asmara have told them that security forces in the city have stormed and detained around 80 high school students at an end of term party.

In a news release, the group said, “The party of 50 girls and 30 boys are from Asmara comprehensive –formerly known as Leul mekonen hafeshawi in the district of Paradizo. It is indicated that the end of year party was held at the Bet Gergish public park. This has inevitably sent shockwaves among parents and concerned citizens of Asmara.”

Outlining his concern Dr. Berhane Asmelash, Director of Release Eritrea! Stated, “This is of particular concern to us on two counts, firstly these detainees are children and given the record of the Government of Eritrea concerning prisoners and detainees I am troubled. Secondly I am apprehensive about the pattern of disrupting social functions and detaining people indiscriminately, the Government of Eritrea seems to have intensified its purge against Eritrean Evangelicals and members of the closed churches, by removing not only their rights to religious freedom but now their rights to any form of social life.”

The news release continued, “It is to be remembered that on the 28th of May security forces raided a wedding at the Kiwa Function hall in Asmara and detained an entire wedding party, more than 70 of those detained then still find themselves incarceration having declined the offer of a release if they recant their evangelical faith.

On May 22 2002, the PFDJ (the ruling party of Eritrea) ordered the closure of all churches not belonging to the Orthodox, Roman Catholic or Evangelical Lutheran denominations. So far, at least 36 churches have been closed. Many followers of these churches and their leaders have been imprisoned, harassed and tortured.

On several occasions since then the Eritrean government issued blanket denials of the existence of persecution in the country stating that “no groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion” and that people were “free to worship according to their wish.”

Eritrea is one of the three new countries, which the United States recently designated as “countries of particular concern for several violations of religious freedom.”

ABOUT RELEASE ERITREA!

Release Eritrea! is a global partnership of Eritreans and friends of Eritrea opposed to religious persecution in the country.

You can contact Release Eritrea by emailing staff@release-eritrea.org.uk or go to their website which can be found at: www.release-eritrea.org.uk.