Human Rights Entities Decry “arbitrary detention” of Catholic Bishop, Priests in Eritrea

The apprehension may be arising from the Clergymen’s preaching, which decry the violation of human rights in the country, officials of the human rights entities say.

They say, “The Eritrean government is yet to give a reason for arresting the clergymen. However, along with Eritrea’s three other Catholic Bishops, Abune Hagos has often expressed concern for the wellbeing of the Eritrean people.”

CSW and HRCE highlight past instances when Catholic Church leaders have spoken against injustices in the Northeast African country.

They say that in 2014, the Catholic Church leaders addressed the issue of emigration caused by the human rights crisis, saying, “The true enemy of peace is injustice. Respect for persons, their dignity and their rights, is the corner-stone of peace.”

They add that in a 2019 Pastoral Letter, the Bishops called for “resolute and historical change” following Eritrea-Ethiopia's second rapprochement.

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Apart from the Pastoral letter, CSW and HRCE officials say Bishop Hagos was vocal in condemning the seizure and closure of 22 Catholic health facilities in 2019. 

Officials of the human rights bodies say the Catholic Bishops in Eritrea have, reportedly, discouraged the faithful from purchasing goods that had been looted from Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region.

CSW and HRCE officials say they have also learnt of the detention of Fr. Kiros Tsegay, an American citizen and founder of the Debre Abune Aregawi-Orlando Orthodox Church in Florida, USA, who has been in police custody since October 2021. 

In the October 19 report, HRCE Director, Elizabeth Chyrum, expresses concern about the arbitrary arrests of the Catholic Clergy.

She says that the arrests “are occurring against the backdrop of massive and punitive door to door round ups of Eritrean citizens of all ages, who are being sent to fight in Tigray in a military offensive that appears predicated on wearing down the stamina and ammunition of the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF).”

Ms. Chyrum says Eritrean men and women, who are viewed as expendable by their government have been offered “to die at the frontlines in waves.”

In the October 17 report, CSW’s Joint Head of Advocacy and Team Leader for Africa and the Middle East says the arrest of the members of Clergy illustrates that “the right to freedom of religion or belief is being restricted comprehensively in Eritrea, along with every other human right.” 

Khataza Gondwe calls on the Eritrean government to release the Catholic Bishop and Priests “along with every other prisoner of conscience it has detained arbitrarily.”

“We also call for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Tigray and other parts of Ethiopia, and for the regime to focus instead on respecting and protecting the rights of Eritrean citizens, and ensuring they finally enjoy the dividends of independence, for which so much was sacrificed by so many,” Ms. Gondwe is quoted as saying in the October 19 report.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.