Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA492
2008-10-07 14:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

GSE GOES ALL OUT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CHRISTIAN

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KIRF KE ER 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000492 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF KE ER
SUBJECT: GSE GOES ALL OUT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CHRISTIAN
"HERETICS"

Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000492

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/E AND DRL/IRF
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2018
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF KE ER
SUBJECT: GSE GOES ALL OUT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CHRISTIAN
"HERETICS"

Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: PolOff met with Reverend Zecharias Abraham
(protect) of the Mehrete Yesus Evangelical Presbyterian
Church Sept 26 to discuss religious freedom violations
perpetrated by the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE).
Zecharias reported three recent developments in the GSE's
efforts to stamp out religious freedom: banning evangelicals
from using Coptic cemeteries, physically torturing Jehovah's
Witnesses, and stifling Orthodox dissenters in Kenya. End
Summary.

"HERETICS" BANNED FROM CEMETERIES
--------------


2. (C) Reverend Zecharias confided to PolOff that the
administrator of the Coptic church, Yeftahe Dimitros,
recently circulated a mandate branding evangelicals as
heretics and forbidding them from using burial grounds owned
by the Orthodox church. Evangelical representatives
reportedly complained to zoba (regional) administrators about
the new restrictions and were told it was out of their hands,
implying that the order had been approved directly by the
President. The Coptic administrator, Yeftahe, is reported to
be a former Eritrean ambassador to Israel.

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ACCUSED OF U.S.-BACKED TREASON
-------------- --------------


3. (C) Zecharias also reported that approximately two dozen
Jehovah's Witnesses have been held in Police Station No. 2
for more than two months. The religious prisoners are being
held on charges of attempting to overthrow the Eritrean
governmeWtWwith assistanWeWfrom the U.S. government.
Reportedly, the prisoners are being physically tortured until
they confess to the accusations. Of the two dozen
imprisoned, four are over the age of 70.

HUNTING DOWN RELIGIOUS DISSENTERS IN KENYA
--------------


4. (C) Zecharias corroborated reports that an Eritrean
Orthodox priest in Kenya faced persecution by the GSE.
Zecharias explained the priest is an outspoken dissenter
against the GSE-backed head of the Orthodox Church, Bishop
Dioscoros, drawing the negative attention of GSE officials as
a result. According to Zecharias, the Eritrean ambassador
assembled a team of Kenyan police officers to hunt down the
priest and deport him to Eritrea, where Zecharias suspects he
would face imprisonment and torture. Thus far, police have
failed to capture him and he is thought to have fled the
country.
TABLERSTONE