Two Catholic Priests were also among those arrested and detained at Adi Abeto prison alongside Bishop Tsalim, the information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies, Agenzia Fides, has reported October 18.
The two Catholic Priests include Fr. Mihretab Stefanos who is the Parish Priest of St Michael's Parish of Segheneity Eparchy, and Abbot Abraham, a member of Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (Franciscan Friars).
Asked about the reasons behind the arrests and detaining of the Catholic Church leaders, the source told ACI Africa, “We really don't know. But they spoke about human right violations that are going on in the country right now.”
The members of the Clergy are being accused of highlighting violations of human rights in Eritrea in their homilies, the source further said on October 18.
The human rights violations, the source added, include “Imprisonment of parents (women and men), mobilization of deserved army people, young people by force etc. to the war fronts, closing homes, (and) confiscation of animals for those people who have refused to go to war” among others.
No one seems to really understand the real reasons for their arrest, the source said, adding that they are being detained “without a reason … We fail to understand up to now”.
The BBC October 17 also indicates that “the reasons behind the detention of the bishop and the two priests are unknown.”
In May, officials of several United Kingdom-based Christian entities expressed concern about “continuing unjust” human rights violations in Eritrea.
In a letter sent to the Eritrean Ambassador in the United Kingdom and Ireland, officials of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Church in Chains - Ireland, Release Eritrea, Human Rights Concern - Eritrea, and the Eritrean Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom highlighted multiple indicators of human rights violation and said the situation deters Eritreans from enjoying their independence.
“We remain concerned at the continuing unjust, arbitrary, and indefinite detention of tens of thousands of Eritrean citizens in harsh conditions, including hundreds of Christians imprisoned solely on account of their faith,” officials of the Christian entities said in their May 20 letter addressed to Ambassador Estifanos Habtemariam Ghebreyesus.
