Raid Leads to Mass Arrest of Witnesses in Eritrea

[Tortuga]

https://www.jw.org/finder?wtlocale=E&docid=702024241&srcid=share

 

Wow!

 

On September 27, 2024, Eritrean authorities raided a private home where a peaceful meeting of Jehovah’s Witnesses was being held. The police made 24 arrests: 6 brothers, 16 sisters, and 2 minor children. Three days later, the authorities returned and arrested the 85-year-old sister who lives in the home. The 2 minor children were later released, while the 23 adults were transferred to the Mai Serwa Prison.

Edited October 11 by Tortuga

[Pionner_who]

It's impressive how the brothers in this country are persecuted solely because of their faith. May Jehovah give them strength.

 

 

[Watching and Waiting]

Added to the 40 Witnesses already imprisoned there, it brings the total to 63.  Imprisoned for Their Faith—Eritrea illuminates the harsh treatment of our brothers and sisters there: "Most of the imprisoned male Witnesses are incarcerated indefinitely, with no hope of release until they die or are near death. Since there are no effective domestic legal procedures or remedies available to them, their imprisonment amounts to a de facto life sentence."  It seems the majority are detained at the Mai Serwa Prison, 34 brothers and 29 sisters. The pdf document is updated for October, but does not include the  23 new detainees.

 

Eritrea persists in disregarding international human rights standards, including an unusual number of deaths while in detention.  Major human rights bodies have condemned the violations of basic rights and continue urging Eritrea to rectify the situation. These include the Human Rights Council (HRC), the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR). 

 

Our brothers and sisters are in need of our prayers.  May Jehovah sustain them as they endure unimaginable treatment. 

[Kyria]

We are under ban in this country. I continue praying for our brothers there and in other countries 🙏🏻 xxx

[Badger]

It really is terrible that our brothers have to suffer such persecution, but on the bright side they are pleasing Jehovah with their integrity.

[Watching and Waiting]

I can now visualize my beautiful sisters, Letebrhan Tesfay and her daughter, Hadassa Zerisenay, mentioned by Brother Lösch in the GB Update #7 when praying for them, as well as the young couple and her brother, Henok, the longest held captive on Eritrea. He will be imprisoned for 20 years in January 2025. 
 

The September raid “occurred nearly 30 years after the president of Eritrea revoked the citizenship of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1994. This decree is still in force and prevents the majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses from leading a normal life, owning property, running a business, or even finding employment,” Brother Lösch said. 
 

They, as well as all 223 brothers around the world are in need of our prayers and supplications on their behalf.