Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA212
2008-04-15 12:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
3,225 CHRISTIANS IN PRISON (AND COUNTING)
how-toVZCZCXRO7866 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0212 1061250 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 151250Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9607 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000212
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL/IRF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV ER
SUBJECT: 3,225 CHRISTIANS IN PRISON (AND COUNTING)
REF: A. ASMARA 205
B. 2007 ASMARA 699
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000212
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL/IRF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV ER
SUBJECT: 3,225 CHRISTIANS IN PRISON (AND COUNTING)
REF: A. ASMARA 205
B. 2007 ASMARA 699
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Reverend Zecharias Abraham (strictly
protect) of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church
met with PolOff on April 10 to discuss the status of the
Christian churches in Eritrea. Rev. Zecharias provided
updated numbers on imprisoned Christians, and his views on
the new GSE-issued "religious ID cards." End Summary.
2. (C) According to Rev. Zecharias, currently 3,225
Christians (of Protestant and charismatic denominations) are
being held in prison throughout the country without formal
charge. This number includes 37 full-time pastors who have
been held without charge since May 2002, and 125 Christians
imprisoned since January 2008 for "unauthorized" worship in
private homes.
3. (C) Rev. Zecharias also commented on the recent religious
ID cards provided to the Catholic Church (reftel A). He
noted that the GSE has also provided cards to the other
approved religious denominations (Lutherans, Muslims, and
Orthodox Christians),but exempting only for a portion of
their religious staff from national service duty. Reverend
Zecharias believes the GSE arbitrarily selected the number of
cards to be issued based on a pre-screening of rosters of
religious officials demanded by the GSE and provided months
earlier by the religious establishments (reftel B). Only the
Catholic Church has received full exemption, i.e. 100% ID
distribution for its religious workers and students.
4. (C) Although exemption from national service may seem like
a victory for the religious institutions, Rev. Zecharias
explained, the ID cards do not actually indicate "exempt from
national service." Instead, he added, the GSE has simply
chosen not to draft those with ID cards at this time.
According to Rev. Zecharias, the cards will serve as a way of
tracking all religious officials who are not yet in national
service so that they can be more easily drafted when the time
comes.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR DRL/IRF AND AF/E
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2018
TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV ER
SUBJECT: 3,225 CHRISTIANS IN PRISON (AND COUNTING)
REF: A. ASMARA 205
B. 2007 ASMARA 699
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Reverend Zecharias Abraham (strictly
protect) of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian Church
met with PolOff on April 10 to discuss the status of the
Christian churches in Eritrea. Rev. Zecharias provided
updated numbers on imprisoned Christians, and his views on
the new GSE-issued "religious ID cards." End Summary.
2. (C) According to Rev. Zecharias, currently 3,225
Christians (of Protestant and charismatic denominations) are
being held in prison throughout the country without formal
charge. This number includes 37 full-time pastors who have
been held without charge since May 2002, and 125 Christians
imprisoned since January 2008 for "unauthorized" worship in
private homes.
3. (C) Rev. Zecharias also commented on the recent religious
ID cards provided to the Catholic Church (reftel A). He
noted that the GSE has also provided cards to the other
approved religious denominations (Lutherans, Muslims, and
Orthodox Christians),but exempting only for a portion of
their religious staff from national service duty. Reverend
Zecharias believes the GSE arbitrarily selected the number of
cards to be issued based on a pre-screening of rosters of
religious officials demanded by the GSE and provided months
earlier by the religious establishments (reftel B). Only the
Catholic Church has received full exemption, i.e. 100% ID
distribution for its religious workers and students.
4. (C) Although exemption from national service may seem like
a victory for the religious institutions, Rev. Zecharias
explained, the ID cards do not actually indicate "exempt from
national service." Instead, he added, the GSE has simply
chosen not to draft those with ID cards at this time.
According to Rev. Zecharias, the cards will serve as a way of
tracking all religious officials who are not yet in national
service so that they can be more easily drafted when the time
comes.
MCMULLEN