One
hundred and sixty members of banned Christian churches are
at grave risk of torture, following their arrest on 15 and
16 October. It is not known where they are being held.
Two Christian men who were among the detainees reportedly died after being
tortured in an effort to force them to renounce their faith. Amnesty International
considers the detainees to be prisoners of conscience, held solely for the
peaceful expression of their beliefs.
As part of the Eritrean government's continuing persecution of members of banned
Christian churches, 150 women, men and children were arrested at their homes
in Mendefera town, 50 km south of the capital Asmara, on 15 and 16 October.
They are members of the Kale Hiwot (Word of God) Church, the Full Gospel Church,
the Church of the Living God and the Rema church. Amnesty International has
received reports that they are being tortured to make them sign a document
agreeing to stop worshipping.
Also on 15 October, 12 members of the Rema church were arrested in Adi-Quala
town, south of Mendefera, for taking part in Christian worship in a private
home. Two of them, Immanuel Andegergesh and Kibrom Firemichael, reportedly
died in a nearby army camp as a result of torture to make them abandon
their faith.
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
Since 2002, only the Orthodox, Catholic and
Lutheran
Christian churches and Islam have been allowed to operate
in Eritrea. Members of some 35 minority Christian evangelical
churches face fierce persecution,
even though freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Eritrean Constitution.
An estimated 2,000 members of minority churches, including about 20
pastors, are currently detained. Detainees are held incommunicado
in harsh conditions
without charge or trial.
They are imprisoned in police stations at first, then in army camps
and security prisons in different parts of the country, including the
main military training
centre at Sawa. Some are held in metal shipping containers and underground
prisons. Several detainees have become seriously ill and are rarely
provided with adequate medical treatment.
They are repeatedly tortured by being beaten and being tied up in painful
positions, in an effort to make them cease worshipping and recant their
faith. Gospel
singer Helen Berhane, a member of the Rema church, was released in
late October 2006 after more than two years in detention. Helen Berhane
had been the subject
of major campaigns by Amnesty International and other organisations.
She had been detained without charge or trial in Mai Serwa army camp,
first in a metal shipping container and later in an underground cell.
In September
2006 she was admitted to hospital after sustaining injuries during
torture. She is reportedly recovering, though she is still using a
wheelchair. Pastor
Iyob Berhe of the Kale Hiwot church, who was arrested in 2005, was
also recently admitted to hospital recently. He was then transferred
to Mendefera police
station.
RECOMMENDED
ACTION:
Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- welcoming the release of Helen Berhane;
- expressing concern about recent arrests in Mendefera and Adi-Quala
of some 160 members of Kale Hiwot, Rema and other evangelical churches;
- calling for them to be released immediately and unconditionally,
as they are prisoners of conscience, detained solely for the exercise
of their right
to freedom of religion, as guaranteed in the Eritrean Constitution;
- calling on the authorities to ensure that they are not tortured
or ill-treated in custody, and that they are given immediate access
to
their families, lawyers
and any medical attention they may require;
- expressing concern that they have been arbitrarily detained without
charge or trial, contrary to human rights provisions in the Eritrean
Constitution
and laws, which require that people are brought before a court within
48 hours of their arrest;
- calling for an impartial investigation into the reported deaths
in custody as a result of torture of Immanuel
Andegergesh and Kibrom Firemichael in an army camp near Adi- Quala
after their arrests on 15 October.
