Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASMARA857
2007-10-31 12:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION CONTINUES: OVER 45 ERITREANS
how-toVZCZCXRO4308 PP RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0857 3041253 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 311253Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9219 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1489 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1666 RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN 0028 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000857
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF ER
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION CONTINUES: OVER 45 ERITREANS
ARRESTED
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 000857
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF ER
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION CONTINUES: OVER 45 ERITREANS
ARRESTED
Classified By: CDA Jennifer A. McIntyre, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) In an October 29 meeting with Poloff, Reverend
Zecharias Abraham(strictly protect) relayed the story of an
attempted escape by Mussie Issa, founder of the evangelical
group, Youth for Christ, and the subsequent arrests of 45 of
his supporters. According to Rev. Zecharias, officials from
the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) Office of
National Security arrested Mussie at his home during the last
week in September, detaining him for the night in a National
Security office in the Tiravolo neighborhood of Asmara.
Befriending the elderly night guard, Mussie managed to
escape. He stole through the neighborhood to the home of a
friend and fellow church member's father. The father, a
relative of Rev. Zecharias and local pharmacy owner, gave
Mussie some clothes and 1000 nakfa and drove him early that
morning to the bus station. Mussie then managed to travel to
Adi Keyh and then on to his home village near Senafe in
southern Eritrea near the Ethiopian border. There he found
refuge for several days until the Office of National Security
tracked him down. The National Security officials
re-arrested him, beating him severely. The officials
returned him to Asmara, where he is reportedly being detained
in an investigation center also run by the Office of National
Security.
2. (C) Mussie is a former member of the Kale Hiwot Church.
With the church's blessing, he left the Kale Hiwot church in
2005 and founded the Eritrean chapter of Youth for Christ.
He was an active missionary who traveled extensively within
Eritrea encouraging young people to join his Christian
organization. He interpreted broadly the mission of Youth
for Christ extending membership to older individuals and
essentially anyone who wished to join. He was eager and
energetic in his membership campaign.
3. (C) Prior to and following his arrest, National Security
officials searched his home. Unfortunately, Mussie was
careless with securing his records, and the officials were
able to obtain a list of his religious supporters. From that
list, and by tracking down those who assisted Mussie in his
attempted escape, the officials initiated a spate of arrests,
detaining over forty-five individuals during the first week
of October. Rev. Zecharias' relative, who assisted Mussie in
leaving Asmara, was one of the first arrested. Mussie's
father, wife and three children were detained when the Office
of National Security learned of his escape from detention.
His wife and children were released when Mussie was
re-arrested. His father, a former fighter during Eritrea's
struggle for independence, remains in detention. According
to Rev. Zecharias, membership in Youth for Christ exceeds 700
individuals and the arrests continue. Most of the detainees
are being held in Police Station Number Five in Asmara.
4. (C) Comment: The persecution of members of religious
organizations in Eritrea has sadly become a way of life. The
GSE shows no signs of changing their modus operandi and post
anticipates these kinds of detentions will continue. End
Comment
MCINTYRE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF ER
SUBJECT: RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION CONTINUES: OVER 45 ERITREANS
ARRESTED
Classified By: CDA Jennifer A. McIntyre, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) In an October 29 meeting with Poloff, Reverend
Zecharias Abraham(strictly protect) relayed the story of an
attempted escape by Mussie Issa, founder of the evangelical
group, Youth for Christ, and the subsequent arrests of 45 of
his supporters. According to Rev. Zecharias, officials from
the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) Office of
National Security arrested Mussie at his home during the last
week in September, detaining him for the night in a National
Security office in the Tiravolo neighborhood of Asmara.
Befriending the elderly night guard, Mussie managed to
escape. He stole through the neighborhood to the home of a
friend and fellow church member's father. The father, a
relative of Rev. Zecharias and local pharmacy owner, gave
Mussie some clothes and 1000 nakfa and drove him early that
morning to the bus station. Mussie then managed to travel to
Adi Keyh and then on to his home village near Senafe in
southern Eritrea near the Ethiopian border. There he found
refuge for several days until the Office of National Security
tracked him down. The National Security officials
re-arrested him, beating him severely. The officials
returned him to Asmara, where he is reportedly being detained
in an investigation center also run by the Office of National
Security.
2. (C) Mussie is a former member of the Kale Hiwot Church.
With the church's blessing, he left the Kale Hiwot church in
2005 and founded the Eritrean chapter of Youth for Christ.
He was an active missionary who traveled extensively within
Eritrea encouraging young people to join his Christian
organization. He interpreted broadly the mission of Youth
for Christ extending membership to older individuals and
essentially anyone who wished to join. He was eager and
energetic in his membership campaign.
3. (C) Prior to and following his arrest, National Security
officials searched his home. Unfortunately, Mussie was
careless with securing his records, and the officials were
able to obtain a list of his religious supporters. From that
list, and by tracking down those who assisted Mussie in his
attempted escape, the officials initiated a spate of arrests,
detaining over forty-five individuals during the first week
of October. Rev. Zecharias' relative, who assisted Mussie in
leaving Asmara, was one of the first arrested. Mussie's
father, wife and three children were detained when the Office
of National Security learned of his escape from detention.
His wife and children were released when Mussie was
re-arrested. His father, a former fighter during Eritrea's
struggle for independence, remains in detention. According
to Rev. Zecharias, membership in Youth for Christ exceeds 700
individuals and the arrests continue. Most of the detainees
are being held in Police Station Number Five in Asmara.
4. (C) Comment: The persecution of members of religious
organizations in Eritrea has sadly become a way of life. The
GSE shows no signs of changing their modus operandi and post
anticipates these kinds of detentions will continue. End
Comment
MCINTYRE