CSW, Church In Chains (Ireland), the Eritrean Orthodox Church in the UK, Human Rights Concern-Eritrea and Release Eritrea held a peaceful protest vigil outside the Eritrean Embassy in London on 30 May to commemorate the closure of churches and the 20th anniversary of the detention of several senior church leaders in Eritrea.
The protest vigil was the first to be held in person outside the embassy since May 2019, having previously taken place every year since 2003 to mark the anniversary of the Eritrean government’s effective outlawing of religious practices not affiliated with the Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran and Orthodox Christian denominations or Sunni Islam in May 2002, the ensuing and ongoing crackdown on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), and the widespread arbitrary detention of religious adherents, including those from the four permitted faith traditions.
Speaking at the protest, Dr Berhane Asmelash, Director of Release Eritrea, addressed the continued detention of prominent church leaders and the situation of Christians in the country: ‘Twenty years is too many. Now the situation in Eritrea is getting worse. In the last month, hundreds of Christians were arrested. They collected them from their houses during the night, some of them at 3am, and they sent them to several places to prisons. All of these people have not committed any crimes, but the Eritrean government says: ‘So what? I can do whatever I want’. No, they cannot do whatever they want because the final word will come from the Lord. We trust and we know change is coming shortly.’
Elsa Chyrum, Director of Human Rights Concern-Eritrea, raised concerns about the plight of Eritrean refugees, pointing out that they are no longer safe in Tigray, Sudan, South Sudan or even further afield in Egypt and Israel: ‘Thousands of Eritreans continue fleeing their country every year – more than from any other African country – fleeing from imprisonment without trial, torture, persecution of beliefs, and, above all, lifetime National Service for every young man or woman over 18 years of age, condemned to endless years in the armed forces or slave labour in government-owned factories, farms, construction sites, and mines. To be a refugee from Eritrea is to be one of the most endangered people seeking protection worldwide.’
CSW’s Head of Advocacy and Team Leader for Africa and the Middle East Dr Khataza Gondwe addressed the continuing injustices perpetrated by the Eritrean government: ‘The government is one of the most repressive in Africa. Enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrest and indefinite and/or incommunicado detention without trial or legitimate charge are rife, and can occur for the most minor reasons. Fundamental rights and freedoms are non-existent; there is no opposition, no independent press, the judiciary is compromised, the national assembly has not met in decades, democratic elections are long overdue and a commendable and ratified constitution with an extensive bill of rights remains unimplemented.’
During the protest, representatives from CSW, Church In Chains (Ireland), Human Rights Concern-Eritrea and Release Eritrea attempted to deliver a letter to the Eritrean Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, His Excellency Estifanos Habtemariam Ghebreyesus, calling for the unconditional release of every prisoner of conscience in the country, ‘beginning with those detained for extensive periods without charge, trial or access to their families.’ However, the embassy refused to open the door to receive the letter directly, so it was posted through its letter box.
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