Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASMARA748
2007-09-21 05:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

IMPRISONED CHRISTIAN DIES IN DETENTION

Tags:  PHUM PREL SOCI KIRF ER 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000748 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI KIRF ER
SUBJECT: IMPRISONED CHRISTIAN DIES IN DETENTION

Classified By: CDA Jennifer A. McIntyre, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000748

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL SOCI KIRF ER
SUBJECT: IMPRISONED CHRISTIAN DIES IN DETENTION

Classified By: CDA Jennifer A. McIntyre, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Following up on reports from various human rights
websites, post has confirmed the death of Nigisti Haile at
the Wi'a Military Training Center, located south of the city
of Massawa. Emboff spoke with a family member on September

18. Her family member confirmed that an official from the
Southern Red Sea Zoba (region),in which the Wi'a facility is
located, contacted the family to inform them that Nigisti had
died from heat stroke. Ms. Haile, an Eritrean citizen
reportedly in her early 30s, was arrested over a year ago
during a church meeting in Keren. A member of the
unregistered Rema Protestant Church, Haile was held in Wi'a
and reportedly tortured for refusing to recant her faith.
Another friend of the family, who is also imprisoned at Wi'a
managed to get a message to Ms. Haile's family confirming
that her death resulting from injuries sustained during
torture.

2.(C) In another case of imprisonment, one of the Embassy's
locally employed staff members was arrested on July 28
because of his membership in the unregistered Full Gospel
Pentecostal Church. He was imprisoned for a month. In a
debriefing with post's Management Officer following his
release, the employee reported that he was arrested while
participating in a small prayer session in a friend's home.
He refused to provide any details of his detention. What
makes his arrest unique is that the Government of the State
of Eritrea (GSE) provided him with a copy of a letter,
addressed to the district administrator of the area of Asmara
in which the employee lives, explaining that he was arrested
because of his religious affiliation. The letter explained
that his release was conditional upon his signing a statement
agreeing to recant his faith and to choose a "customary"
Eritrean religious faith. (Note: One presumes the letter
refers to one of the four official religions of Eritrea:
Islam, Eritrean Orthodox Christian Church, Catholic Church or
the Evangelical Lutheran Church. End Note.) The letter also
requested that the district officials observe him
indefinitely and ensure he complies with the agreement he
signed. Since his return home, the employee reports that he
is routinely followed and harassed and his home has been
searched. Feeling unsafe and fearing arrest, he is exploring
opportunities to depart Eritrea.


3. (U) Amidst the reports of on-going GSE-directed religious
persecution ) and the day after the release of the
International Religious Freedom Report - the GSE published
September 15 on its official webpage (www.shabait.com) a
three paragraph editorial about religious harmony in Eritrea.
In this statement, the GSE claims that the Eritrean people
understand that the "basic philosophy behind all religions is
to create social harmony." As such, the editorial claims
(falsely),that "religious holidays are celebrated not only
by the followers of that faith but are rather celebrated by
everyone in the country, regardless of religious affiliation"
and that Eritrean society lives "in (sic) a higher plane of
spiritual understanding." The editorial continues,
"...Eritrean religious understanding is several steps ahead
of those who seek to manipulate religion for political ends
and then try to cover up their intentions by engaging in
childish analyses."


4. (C) Comment: These reports, sadly, are yet further
examples of the continuing persecution of Eritrean citizens
who wish to practice different religions, and a classic
illustration of the government media trying to refute GSE
actions in spite of clear evidence to the contrary. All
attempts to date to engage the GSE on addressing violations
of religious freedom have failed, with the GSE presenting the
same "religious harmony" rejoinder. At this point in time
post sees no change in the GSE,s policy toward the
"unofficial" religions and we anticipate that our annual
demarche to the MFA on Eritrea's status as a "Country of
Particular Concern" will be met with indifference. End
Comment.
MCINTYRE