Feb 252012

  Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:16:13 -0500

 Dictionaries generally define persecution as the systematic harassment or habitual ill-treatment over a period of time (often on grounds of race, religion, ideology, and lifestyle), used especially for systematic ill-treatment by governments and other official bodies. As such, religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs and affiliations.

The tendency of societies or groups within society to alienate or repress different sub-cultures is a recurrent theme in human history. Moreover, because a person’s religion often determines to a significant extent his or her morality and personal identity, religious differences can be significant cultural factors.

Religious persecution may be triggered by religious bigotry (i.e. the denigration of practitioners’ religions other than those of the oppressors) or by the State when it views a particular religious group as a threat to its interests or security. At a societal level, this dehumanization of a particular religious group may readily turn into violence or other forms of persecution. Indeed, in many countries, religious persecution has resulted in so much violence that it is considered a human rights problem.


Religious persecution can be considered the opposite of freedom of religion. Religious persecution may also affect atheists in that they may be denounced as being amoral or be persecuted by the religious on the grounds that they are godless. Often, it is the alleged persecution of individuals within a group – in the attempt to maintain their religious identity, or the exercise of power by an individual or organization – that causes members of a religious group to suffer. Persecution in this case may refer to confiscation or destruction of property, incitement to hate, arrest, imprisonment, beatings, torture, and execution.





The Eritrean Revolution had two paramount objectives: the independence ofEritreafrom alien rule followed by the liberation of all Eritreans economically, politically, socially and culturally. Between 1941 and 1991, tremendous amount of energy was released, and enormous sacrifices paid to gain freedom from colonial powers. Thanks to our gallant freedom fighters and Eritrean as a whole our independence attained, but the revolution remained unfinished because the dream and expectation of all Eritreans for peace, stability, prosperity, equality, human dignity and democratic governance is yet to be achieved. Needless to say, Eritreans are suffering from the brutal acts of the dictatorial regime of the PFDJ.


 There is unchecked religious persecution in Eritreatoday by the ruling party  that people initially expected to be their human and political rights champion. I am not talking about Christians killing Muslims or vice-versa, pagans being chased by religious community or atheists being persecuted by other religious establishments. No. I am talking about what Eritrean dictatorial regime is doing: imprisoning, killing, torturing, confiscating property, and dehumanizing all religious groups in Eritrea for no other  reason but just because the government dislikes their religious activities and above all because they did not summit to its whims by abandoning their religious duties. Funny enough, the regime inEritrea is a signatory member of the International Covenant on Civic and Human Rights (ICCPR). One of the articles of the Covenant state as follows:

  • Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his/her religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
  • No one shall be subjected to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.


The Eritrean dictatorial regime does not care and abide by its international obligations, thus is committing gross religious persecutions and atrocities on the Eritrean people at home. As cited in an article by an Eritrean Jehovah’s Witness, below are some important international laws that the government of Eritrea was expected to respect but did not.

    The article notes that iinternational and domestic laws are already in place relevant to conditions inEritrea, and it goes as follows:

  • The Eritrean Constitution, adopted in July 1996, guarantees in Article 14 (2): “No person may be discriminated against on account of. . . religion. . . or any other factors.” Article 19 (1) states: “Every person shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and belief.” Article 19 (4) guarantees: “Every person shall have the freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice.” (These quotes are from the draft text of the Constitution.)
  • The UN Commission on Human Rights issued Resolution 1989/59, on March 8, 1989, which stated: “The Commission on Human Rights (1) recognizes the right of everyone to have conscientious objections to military service as a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion as laid down in article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; (2) Appeals to States to enact legislation and to take measures aimed at exemption from military service on the basis of a genuinely held conscientious objection to armed service . . .”
  • UN Resolution 1466 (2003) (adopted by the Security Council at its 4719th meeting on March 14, 2003) states: “The Security Council . . . reiterating the need for both parties [Eritrea and Ethiopia] to fulfill their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, human rights law . . .”
  • Eritreabecame a member of the United Nations and accepted the obligations contained in its charter on May 28, 1993. The Charter states in Article 1 (3) that one purpose of the United Nations is to promote and encourage “respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.”
  • The Universal Declaration of Human Rights guarantees in Article 1: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” Article 2 states: “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as . . . religion . . . or other status.” And Article 18 states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
  • In the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ratified by Eritrea on January 14, 1999), Article 2 guarantees: “Every individual shall be entitled to the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms recognized and guaranteed in the present Charter without distinction of any kind such as . . . religion, . . . or other status.” Article 8 guarantees: “Freedom of conscience, the profession and free practice of religion shall be guaranteed. No one may, subject to law and order, be submitted to measures restricting the exercise of these freedoms.”
  • The President of Eritrea was among 53 heads of African States who agreed to and adopted the Constitutive Act of the African Union on July 11, 2000. (This Act entered into force on May 26, 2001.) Article 3 states: “The objectives of the Union shall be to: . . .(e) Encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; [and] (h) Promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant human rights instruments.”


To fully understand the suffering Eritreans are enduring, click the link below written by the US Department of State onEritrea.




 The dictatorial regime in Eritreaknows no rule of law, constitution, no respect for human life. Any citizen who dares to question the misdeeds of the government has to be humiliated or perish. For example, click the link below written by JONAH FISHER of BBC- NEWS:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3663654.stm


 The regime in power inEritreawas the force that led the final phase ofEritrea’s struggle for independence. Most Eritreans and the world community are surprised to see the liberator turned a predator. One can sayEritreais a jungle with the beast well alive looking for its next victim in this jungle. The means of survival in this jungle is either to summit to the whims of the predator that is the dictatorial regime or to escape and leave the jungle that isEritreato the frontier of the unknown hoping a better future. Click  the link below written by DANIEL R MEKONNEN and MIRJAM REISEN to see how cruel and unrelenting the PFDJ is.   



 The contemporary Eritrean crisis is political. Eritreahad no any social or nationality conflict since its inception. There was no religious conflict ever and our diversity was and is harmonious.  The human rights violations, religious persecutions, question of nationalities and economic shortfall inEritrea cannot be solved unless we tackle the political crisis coordinating our efforts. What is needed as a matter of urgency today is that all political organizations, religious groups, youth organizations, women’s organizations, civic societies, professional unions, etc should coordinate their efforts to get rid off dictatorship in the country and work together with the people in the country to establish the rule of law. Friends ofEritrea are expected to give their solidarity and support to these forces.

I would like to call all forces of Eritrean opposition to unite and rally around the following Guiding Principles :

  • Eritrean people’s unity in diversity.
  • Eritrea’s Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity.
  • Peaceful management and resolution of all, including political, conflicts.
  • Respect for human rights.
  • Respect for representative democratic governance.
  • Promotion of regional fraternity between the peoples of the Horn of Africa.
  • Independencefrom un-healthy external political influences and interferences.
  • Promote national unity and work hard for a smooth transition from dictatorship    to democracy.”

Religious and all other types of persecutions and human rights violations can come to an end inEritreaonly when the lawless regime is replaced by a democratic system that respects the rule of law.

  We struggle we succeed        Comments>>>> ama766@comcast.net

Glory to our martyrs

 Posted by at 3:59 am

  21 Responses to “Persecution Of Faith And Experiences Under Pfdj In Eritrea By Amare Gebremariam Gebre”

  1. Mr Amare, you are an opportunist jackyl who has not a firnm stand expet chastisising Eritreans and Eritrean governement. The few youths youthe in diaspora has pushed you back to the dust bin of history so, stay out of Eritrean politics, You are rich, educated carry on your life in uncle Sam’s land.

  2. Thank you Ato Amare, but Eritreans, have grown up much to understand that the so called opposition groups, bring issue that do not exist for their ultimate (personal) benefit. We, as eritreans have the chance to visit our beloved country and to see with our own eyes and we find the opposite of what you’re preaching…unlike you, which you didn’t had the chance to see the reality by your own eyes, you depend on some untrue stories, links and so on written by BBC, CNN etc…it’s obvious from your writings that you nurture a hate toward the leadership of the GOE…it’s common that you may not like the president, some Eritrean official, but do not preach hatred based on unfounded accusation…

  3. Mr Amare, you are an opportunist jackyl who has not a firm stand expet chastisising Eritreans and Eritrean governement. The few youths youths in diaspora have pushed you back to the dust bin of history so, stay out of Eritrean politics, You are rich, educated carry on with your your life in uncle Sam’s land.

  4. There is a relentless effort going on in Eritrea with the aim of destroying the Eritrean Orthodox Church. The Pentes and Jehovas are the main culprits. We advice them to control their aggression.

    • LoL. its funny and hypocrisy!

      • My friend, that is the truth. The Pentes and the Jehovas are the Talibans of Eritrea. I am sure you are aware of what happened in Bamyan. We have to stop the Bamyanization of the Eritrean culture at any cost,although I wouldn’t like to emulate the Indians in their treatment of Western cultural invaders in the name of religion.

  5. So denden and sahle,you guys are living in side the country for you are accusing Amare for his out of touch(reality)?!! This simply tells us that you are much further than the reality than Amare.Any one who questions the gross human rights violation in Eritrea is either disillusioned or/and opportunist(or lunatic like the president).

  6. Denden and Sahle you are not match to this guy bravo amare what is wrong living in uncle Sam land the land of freedom. If you don’t like the west with its freedom why not join the despot . See you guys don’t get it learn from Naizghi he was killing for Isyas he descarded like no body and still killing his family imotionaly

    • semer, all I say to you is like him you are simply a useful idiot, all you care is your belly nothing much. I wish you enjoy uncle Sam’s hospitality till it runs out!

  7. Mr Amareit choose one.. religion or politics….please do not mess up the issue for religion/s are the making of human entities

  8. we heard this the same copy for over ten years, do you have any new Amare ? to get paid more at least change some wording or omit some , otherwise you look the same fool again and again

  9. Time has came, to see vanishing all hostility against Eritrean people and it’s leadership, Eritrean are unique people in the world in general and in particular in Africa, because they do what they believe, above all are very mature to understand, to analyse and take seriuosly the argument, you can’t drive them as you wish. Concerning religions, some said :-” WHAT IS NEW IN THE BIBLE OR IN THE QU’RAN?” So what is the scope of these new religions? I tell, it’s invented nearly half century with the formation of bildberg ellite in early 1950, in searching ways how to recolonize the thirld world so among the others was the new invention of religion congratations such pentecostal,jehuva’s witness, etc.,whom predict no nationaly, patriotism, sovernity, and in the absence of these noble sentments a person is reduced to slavery and it’s country is occupied leaded by aliens(western powers) In virtue of this fact stand to testifies tha those whom invented these religions they don’t believe on them, they are the tools to achieve thei interest, same as human right,democracy, freedom of speech, now in the western uprising all these are not respected.SO DON’T CHEAT PEOPLE JUST FOR YOUR SURVIVAL.

  10. Those who comments above except Semere, please open your eyes and learn from Naizghi;s corps. Blind support to Isaias is not going to help you, but destroy you.
    Thank you

    • Mr useful idiot, enemy of his people , you are very weak. That explains why you are changing the subject.

    • You are dancing at woyane’s tune, I don’t think you have such devotian to Mr.Naizghi K.( God bless his soul) but using the late as pretex to demonize the Eritrean leadership, and trying to manipulate the Eritrean sentiment, wake up people are alert after the woyane attrocity in 1998. To forgive is blessed to forget is a condemnation to repeat. Pls you have a lot to say about your master.

  11. The Eritrean people are rich in culture and religion. We don’t need religions designed by opportunists and organizations with evil agenda to enslave as by controlling our minds. Those who are trying to introduce new extremist religions like pentes, jihovas, and Islamic extremist inspired religions in Eritrea or in Africa have their own hidden agenda. The goal is to continuously exploit people and nations specially the most vulnerable members of society. They have nothing good to offer but to create perpetual slavery, chaos and religious tension. People need to be conscious not to get in to this religious trap, which only benefit those with evil agenda and colonizers.

    • A wise comment, I like it ( nkheed thray)

    • You are very narrow minded person as much as you persecute an opinion that shows it has won you. There is a law and we need to abide by law not by your extrimist idiotic opinion. You may feel as if you have nationalistic view by putting the religion as enemy to the society. Unlike your narrow minded opinion societies tolerate different religiouse differences and co-exist. There was no any societal tention prior to crackdawn it was done by single opinion from the dictator. We need to get out of being led by a single opinion to be led by rule of law.

  12. Amare Gebre Thank you for trying to expose the evil actions of the dictator. People tend to support the single dictator by denying all these facts just for their personal benefits like we have seen at the time of derg. The very people who are supporting the dictator and denying the pain we Eritrean people are passing are just blinded by short term recreation benefits like Essepa of the derg time. They will call you names but they can’t face the reality. The issue of Naizghi’s corpus is very abviouse that he is denied burrial because of the personal dissatisfaction of his boss Eseyas no other explanation can be given. We paid over 100, 000 martyers to be governed by rule of law not by satisfaction of a single individual Eseyas Aforki. We are people and we have to define our future respect of each other and rule of law. This things are shaking the very foundation of our co-existence. We have to check our conscience and try to solve our problems by respecting each other and standing for our individual and collective rights.
    People who commented here are few peole that have engaged in destractive actions by denying the facts. Please think about 5 yrs 10yrs ..20 yrs from now. There will be change and let us work for change that we will co-exist peacefuly. Let us understand each other. Why would you have an urge of destrying your fellow Eritrean because of religious accusations and other opinions. We know who is who and who is supporting the dictator don’t lit a fire that will consume the entire society. Why do you joke and bark while I die and get inprisoned. You may joke and lough today but don’t forget one day you will collect the seed that you sow on the land. Let us sow seed of respect and will co-exist as our fore fathers did. Thanks to all people with conscience.