
Allow Eritrean Religious Minorities to Register as Legal Religions


"Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel, a leading figure of Full Gospel Church of
Eritrea, founder and senior pastor of Southwest Full Gospel Church and
member of the executive committee to the Full Gospel Church of Eritrea,
was arrested on May 23, 2004. He was taken from his home in Asmara
Gejeret, at approximately 5 a.m. Dr. Gebremeskel was a mathematics
lecturer, department and faculty head at the University of Asmara until
1999, when he became a full-time pastor at the Southwest Full Gospel
Church. He has a Ph.D. in mathematics from Chicago University. His wife
and four children have not been able to visit him.
About 2,000
Eritrean Christians are believed to be under arrest because of their
religious beliefs, held in police stations, military camps and prisons
in 12 known locations across Eritrea. Dr. Gebremeskel is one of the 28
clergymen being held.
Jailed Protestants are routinely subjected
to physical beatings and severe psychological pressure to deny their
religious beliefs. Police and military authorities continue to demand
the prisoners return to one of the three “official” Christian
denominations recognized by the government. But even the legally
recognized denominations--the nation’s historic Orthodox, Catholic and
Lutheran churches--have come under government disfavor, incurring
threats and even jailing by security police officials.
Sources: VOM, Compass Direct"
Copied directly from:
VOM, and Compass Direct. "Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel." www.prisoneralert.com. The Voice of the Martyrs, n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2014.
In Eritrea, only certain registered branches of Christianity are allowed to practice worship. According to Prisoner Alert, "The Full Gospel Church, [the denomination Dr. Gebremeskel is a part of], filled out the form [to register] and returned it to the appropriate offices, but no reply was ever received" (Haile Nayzgi). In order to prevent cases like that of Dr. Gebremeskel add your vote to this petition. Thank you for your support!
VOM, and Compass Direct. "Haile Nayzgi." www.prisoneralert.com. The Voice of the Martyrs, n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2014.
Also, read more at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3663654.stm
https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2013/05/2504446/
http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/eritrea/report-2013
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