April 1, 2004

• Do you pray?  Do you believe in human rights?  This article is for you.  Its from an extremely reliable resource.  

  
  

  And for those of you who couldn’t identify where Eritrea was (like me)  Its between Sudan and Ethiopia.   Ya know the places in the world where we’re all so very greatful we weren’t born in. 

  
  

  
  

   

  
  

  FLASH NEWS from COMPASS DIRECT

  
  

  Global News from the Frontlines

  
  

   

  
  

  Summary:

  
  

  LOS ANGELES, April 1 (Compass) — Police in the Eritrean capital of Asmara launched an investigation on March 20 into the activities of an Orthodox group of young adults known as Medhane Alem. Their Sunday afternoon meeting place was sealed, and the lay leader of the group was arrested and released one day later. Two days earlier, police also arrested 20 members of the Kale Hiwot Church during a home cell meeting in Assab. Over half of the members were military personnel who were taken to a nearby place called Gheharo. “Their lives are in danger,” fellow Protestants declared. In a separate incident, an Eritrean Christian singer was arrested by security police in Asmara on March 19. These latest arrests bring the known number of independent Protestants jailed for their faith to 385. The prisoners include pastors, women, teenagers, children, the elderly and dozens of soldiers. Many have been subjected to severe torture and demeaning conditions for months.

  
  

   

  
  

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  Eritrean Police ‘Investigate’ Orthodox Renewal Movement

  
  

  Twenty-one more Protestants are arrested, 12 are jailed.

  
  

  Special to Compass Direct

  
  

   

  
  

  LOS ANGELES, April 1 (Compass) — Police in the Eritrean capital of Asmara launched an investigation 12 days ago into the activities of a group of young adults in the Orthodox Church.

  
  

   

  
  

  According to sources in Asmara, the small downtown office being used for Sunday afternoon meetings by the Medhane Alem group was sealed by the police on Saturday, March 20. Although the lay leader of the group was arrested that same day, he was released the next day.

  
  

   

  
  

  A renewal movement within the Orthodox Church, the Medhane Alem functions mainly as a Sunday School for young adults. The ordained Orthodox priest directing the Sunday School movement is reportedly under police investigation, although he has not been arrested.

  
  

   

  
  

  When the group gathered at a new place for their regular meeting on Sunday afternoon, March 21, two security police officers joined them, video taping their entire meeting. When questioned, the two declared they were “ordered by the president’s office” to do this, and accused the group of conducting “illegal activities.”

  
  

   

  
  

  Meanwhile, police arrested 20 members of the Kale Hiwot Church during a home cell meeting in Assab on the morning of March 18. The nine civilians of the group were forced to sign a document promising not to meet together again, and then released.

  
  

   

  
  

  But the other 11 evangelicals, all men, were military personnel who were taken to a nearby place called Gheharo. “Their lives are in danger,” fellow Protestants declared. “We are very concerned about their safety.”

  
  

   

  
  

  In a separate incident, an Eritrean Christian singer was arrested by security police in Asmara on March 19 just as he stepped into a taxi. The singer, Yona Haile, had released a video tape during February around the theme, “Jesus: the solution to man’s problems.” Reportedly taken to Adi Abetu, the singer was then transferred to the Sawa Military Center on the morning of March 24. Security officials reportedly accused Haile of activities contrary to government policy.

  
  

   

  
  

  These last arrests reported in March bring the known number of independent Protestants jailed for their faith to 385. The prisoners include pastors, women, teenagers, children, the elderly and dozens of soldiers. Many have been subjected to severe torture and demeaning conditions for months. Since May 2002, the churches of 12 denominations have been closed by government order and their congregations totaling about 20,000 believers are forbidden to worship even in their homes.

  
  

   

  
  

  Four “official” religions are recognized by the Eritrean government, which declares that only the Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran and Muslim faiths have an “historic existence” in the country.

  
  

   

  
  

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  Copyright 2004 Compass Direct

  
  

   

  
  

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   If you made it this far…and are still curious.  I found this site.  http://www.asmera.nl/asmara-schools.htm  which has pictures of the country.  Rather pretty place from those pictures…….

  
  

  Its one of those times when I’m ever so greatful I’m an American and live in a freedom as you choose place. 

  
  

   

  
  

   

  • 4:01 pm
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