WARWICK, N.Y., Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Eritrea is
the center point of some of the most intense persecution of
Jehovah's Witnesses in modern times. As of September 17, 2019,
three of the Witnesses, Paulos
Eyasu, Isaac Mogos, and
Negede Teklemariam, have been
unjustly incarcerated for 25 years. In addition, 39 men and 10
women who are Witnesses are also imprisoned.
All Witnesses currently in prison have never been charged,
appeared in court, or sentenced. Therefore, they do not know when
they will be released. Four Witness men have died while in prison,
and three died after they were released because of the harsh
conditions they suffered.
Persecution in Eritrea
intensified on October 25, 1994, about a year and a half after
Eritrea became an independent
country from Ethiopia. The new
president declared that Eritrean-born Jehovah's Witnesses were no
longer considered citizens primarily because they stood firm to
their position of Christian neutrality by refusing to take part in
National Service. The president also stripped them of basic civil
rights. Among other restrictions, Jehovah's Witnesses are not able
to receive a full secular education, own a business, or travel
outside of the country.
In recent years, prominent human rights bodies have expressed
increasing concern over Eritrea's
blatant disregard for international human rights standards,
including cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses. Eritrea has failed to implement the
recommendations issued by these authorities.
See brochure: "SPECIAL REPORT: The Persecution of Jehovah's
Witnesses in Eritrea"
Jehovah's Witnesses will continue to inform government officials
and others in authority about the situation in Eritrea.
Media Contact:
Gilles Pichaud
845-744-6000
223054@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Jehovahs Witnesses Office of Public Information