03
November 2006
UA 294/06 Torture / Prisoners of conscience
ERITREA
160 members of evangelical churches
Killed:
Immanuel Andegergesh (m)
Kibrom Firemichael (m)
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.
APPEALS
TO:
President:
His Excellency Issayas Afewerki
Office of the President
P O Box 257, Asmara, Eritrea
Fax: 011 2911 125123
Salutation: Your Excellency
Ms Fawzia Hashim
Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice
P O Box 241, Asmara, Eritrea
Salutation: Dear Minister
Fax: 011 2911 126422
COPIES
TO:
Brigadier Abraham Andom
Commissioner of Police
Ministry of Internal Affairs
P O Box 1223, Asmara, Eritrea
Mr Semere Beyene
Director, Department of Religious Affairs
Ministry of Local Government
P O Box 225, Asmara, Eritrea
Fax: 011 2911 120014
Ambassador Girma Asmerom
Embassy of the State of Eritrea
1708 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington DC 20009
Fax: 1 202 319 1304
Please
send appeals immediately. Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action
office if sending appeals after 15 December 2006
