Eritrea: Our brothers in prisons at high risk from Covid-19

[Julie]

“Detainees in Eritrea are at great risk of contracting infectious diseases because of the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions they are being held in,” said Deprose Muchena.

At the Mai Serwa Asmera Flowers facility, in reality a forced labour camp where Jehovah’s Witnesses and other detainees are forced to work on flower farms, there are no toilets for detainees. All 700 of them, both men and women, relieve themselves out in the open. At Mai Serwa Maximum Security prison, there are only 20 toilets for 500 detainees.

In Adi Abeyito, detainees can relieve themselves only twice daily in toilets located outside the compound. The prison has toilets within its grounds reserved for use in the rainy season or extraordinary circumstances such as suspected strikes or prison breaks. In 2015, detainees raised money and built a toilet in each detention hall to cater for the needs of the sick, elderly or those with disabilities.

No social distance

The four prisons are extremely congested; Adi Abeyito holds more than four times its capacity of 800 people, Ala prison holding about triple its capacity of 1,200 people while Mai Serwa has more than double its 230-person capacity.

The vast majority have never been formally charged or brought to court and do not know when, or if, their detention will end.

They are held in spaces ranging from 2x2m cells for solitary confinement at the Mai Serwa Maximum prison, to shipping containers holding more than 20 detainees, and halls measuring up to 10x20m. Detainees generally take turns to sleep on bare floors because beds or mattresses are not allowed.

 

Read more: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/eritrea-detainees-in-overcrowded-and-unsanitary-conditions-defenceless-against-covid19/

[Ahuvah]

I'm very sad to hear this ... just need to pray Jehovah has them together in a group in an area the coronavirus decides NOT to go..

There are many brothers and sisters who have died from this ... very sad time when you think deeply about it. 

 

I pray that Jehovah will stay right beside them even if the worst happens and they will get strength beyond what is normal to cope. Maybe all these trials our dear brothers are going through might form part of the New Scrolls - even if they aren't - and they die - they will be so proud of the example they've set for all of us when they are resurrected.

 

Oh Jehovah! I know you have a set time for your day ... I don't want to apear to be trying to bring it forward, as your time is the right time, but Jehovah ... this System is done ... please may your day be close and please wrap your arms aroud all our brothers and sisters especially those who may slip away before your GT. Please somehow convey to them how deeply we care for all of them and that all our hearts are breaking.  This would be my prayer.

Edited May 23, 2020 by Stormswift

[Skye]

I do hope and pray that this is not fake news! Will wait for official confirmation from our website - then we’ll know if it’s true or not. But if it is true......my heart is already overflowing with thanksgiving. If not, Jehovah continues holding their hands and preserving them. Our petitions will continue to ascend.

[Leon J]

If true @skye this is the best news i've heard this year. 

[Skye]

 Disappointing. It doesn't seem that the above Facebook story is true. I feel very sorry and apologize for raising my (our) hopes high  - I badly wanted it to be true. I hoped that something this good would come out of this pandemic. Please ignore that post. Meantime, we keep praying and waiting patiently.

[Hope]

7 hours ago, Skye said:

 Disappointing. It doesn't seem that the above Facebook story is true. I feel very sorry and apologize for raising my (our) hopes high  - I badly wanted it to be true. I hoped that something this good would come out of this pandemic. Please ignore that post. Meantime, we keep praying and waiting patiently.

Heartbreaking 💔  How did you discover that the story was false, please?  I looked for evidence yesterday and couldn't find anything. 

 

Thank you! 

[Skye]

The sister who shared it with me, knows friends with contacts in Eritrea. They hadn’t heard any such news, unfortunately. 

[LoneWanderer]

Even if this would have been partially true, the prisons mentioned in this news source, Adi Abeyto and May Serwa, are likely not where our brothers P'awlos, Yshaq and Negede have been kept for the past 26 years 

 

An Amnesty International article does claim that some of our brothers are kept in May Serwa, though: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/eritrea-detainees-in-overcrowded-and-unsanitary-conditions-defenceless-against-covid19/

[Skye]

On 8/19/2020 at 10:25 PM, Leon J said:

If true @skye this is the best news i've heard this year. 

It happened!!!!!

[Leon J]

On 12/4/2020 at 9:06 AM, Skye said:

It happened!!!!!

So it did. I forgot about this post. Not that it matters but It would be interesting to see exactly when our brothers were released compared to your original posting. A few articles I read (not going to link but easily found) stated that 'evangelicals and others' were released starting in September from Eritrean prisons. 

 

 

[Skye]

1 hour ago, Leon J said:

So it did. I forgot about this post. Not that it matters but It would be interesting to see exactly when our brothers were released compared to your original posting.

They’re most probably unrelated. The breaking news on JW.org reads: “On December 4, 2020, 26 brothers and 2 sisters in Eritrea were set free after being imprisoned for their faith.”

[dove]

I learned yesterday that one of the brothers released in Eritrea was the father of a brother in our congregation. He was in there for 12 years. They are Eritrean. This was the second time he was imprisoned.The second time his son Emanuel Bereket fled and went to Ethiopia and learned Amharek and then went to Canada, then the U.S. and then into our hall. So we knew the son and his wife and their two children..just this past year they moved on to another hall..the father that was released is named Abraha Bereket. If anyone has the list of names it's the second one down..I have the list, just have to figure out how to post it..

Edited December 5, 2020 by Dove

[dove]