Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07050022.htm
ASSIST News Service (ANS) - PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609-0609 USA
Visit our web site at: www.assistnews.net — E-mail: assistnews@aol.com
Friday, May 4, 2007
Christian Leader Arrested During Church Raid in Eritrea
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
ASMARA, ERITREA (ANS) — The Presbyterian Mehret Yesus Church in Asmara, Eritrea, was raided by government forces during a Sunday Service on 29 April 2007, according to sources close to human rights NGO Release Eritrea-UK. Around 80 people were detained, including several foreign nationals and the head of the Eritrean Evangelical Alliance.
According to a spokesperson for Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the leader of the church, Reverend Zecharias Abraham, had been serving as head of the Eritrean Evangelical Alliance, since the arrest of the previous leader, Haile Naizgi, in May 2004. At least three American citizens were also reportedly amongst those detained.
“The Mehret Yesus Church was one of the few churches allowed to function after the government decreed the closure of all churches not belonging to the Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran denominations in 2002,” said the spokesperson.
“The recent raid follows a renewed government crackdown on Christian activity in Eritrea since the beginning of the year. 68 Christians were detained during January alone and more recently the government announced the illegal appointment of a new Patriarch of the Orthodox Church following the unlawful dismissal of the consecrated Patriarch, Abune Antonios. Patriarch Antonios remains under stringent house arrest.”
“In addition, Eritrean Christians abroad are reporting harassment from supporters of the Eritrean government. Threats sent recently by email told the recipient to ‘watch her back’ as she would soon be attacked ‘on the streets of London’ by members of the ruling party’s youth wing.”
In a statement commenting on the raid, Dr Berhane Asmelash of Release Eritrea said: “This confirms the anti religion and anti Christianity stance of the Government of Eritrea. Presumably Mehret Yesus Church escaped being targeted for closure and arrests five years ago because it complied with government ‘requirements’, which is the common pretext for the closure of the other Churches, but this confirms that compliance has nothing to do with it whatsoever.”
Tina Lambert, Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s Advocacy Director, said: “The closure of a church that had previously been free to operate constitutes a further illustration of the Eritrean government’s determination to control all aspects of society, including religious activity. Once again they have targeted one of the country’s prominent Christian leaders, seemingly considering them a threat to their authority. It is also concerning that their threats are now reaching those who have supposedly found refuge in other countries. The international community must not continue to sit back while the Eritrean Government continues to disregard the rights of their people.”
For more information, please contact Penny Hollings, Campaigns and Media Manager at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on +44 20 8329 0045, email pennyhollings@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.
CSW is a human rights organization which specializes in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.
Dan Wooding is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the latest of which is his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to www.fromtabloidtotruth.com. danjuma1@aol.com.
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Note: The following text is a quote:
http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_2939.html
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Sat May 05 2007 04:33:50 GMT-0700.
ERITREA
May 02, 2007
This Travel Warning is being issued to update information on Eritrea’s current security situation and to reiterate the Department of State’s advice that U.S. citizens defer non-essential travel to Eritrea due to restrictions on travel outside the capital city of Asmara. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning issued on June 5, 2006.
The Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) cited safety and security concerns in imposing travel restrictions on all foreign nationals including resident diplomats as of June 2006. Given these concerns and travel restrictions, the U.S. Embassy continues to urge American citizens to defer all travel to Eritrea.
The GSE’s restrictions require all visitors and residents to apply with the GSE 10 days in advance for permission to travel outside Asmara city limits. As a result, the U.S. Embassy cannot provide consular assistance in an emergency outside of Asmara. Travelers also should be aware that that the GSE does not inform the U.S. Embassy when American citizens have been arrested or detained.
Americans living or traveling in Eritrea are strongly encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Asmara in person or through the State Department’s travel registration web site, https://travelregistration.state.gov , to register their presence in the country and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Eritrea. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency and provide updates on security situations. The U.S. Embassy is located at 179 Alaa Street, P.O. Box 211, Asmara; telephone (291-1) 12-00-04; fax (291-1) 124-255 and (291-1) 127-584; web site http://asmara.usembassy.gov . For after hours emergencies dial 291-1-120004 and ask to speak to the duty officer.
For additional information, consult the Department of Stat’s latest Consular Information Sheet for Eritrea and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement. American citizens may also obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from abroad.