Eritrean Orthodox Church Leaders Imprisoned Without Charges for Over 20 Years

The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church has faced significant persecution under the leadership of President Isaias Afwerki, who has ruled the country since 1993. For nearly two decades, seven church leaders have been imprisoned without trial or formal charges. Among them are Rev. Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis, Dr. Futsum Gebrenegus, and Rev. Tekleab Menghisteab, who were arrested on November 19, 2004, as part of a broader crackdown on a renewal movement within the church. The regime has targeted these leaders for their involvement in this movement, which it has condemned.

The three priests, along with three others arrested in 2004 and one in 2005, have been held incommunicado at Wengel Mermera Criminal Investigation Centre, a maximum-security prison in Asmara. The U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has described this facility as one of Eritrea’s “atrocious” prisons. These Christian leaders have not been granted access to legal representation or due process, raising serious concerns about their treatment and the rule of law in the country.

The imprisonment of these leaders has had a profound impact on their families. Dr. Gebrenegus’ wife and father died in the years following his arrest, while Pastor Gebregiorgis’ wife, Tsegeweyni Mekonnen Haile, died of cancer in June 2022, leaving behind her husband and three children. Pastor Menghisteab, a highly respected physician and the most senior at St. Mary Psychiatric Hospital in Asmara, was arrested on the day of his arrest. His wife and daughters have since fled the country for their safety.

Christian rights groups have called for international action to support the seven Eritrean Christians imprisoned without trial. Advocacy efforts include demonstrations, processions, and prayer meetings scheduled for Friday, International Day Commemorating Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. These efforts are part of the Religious Liberty Partnership’s Voices for Justice campaign, which includes organizations such as 21Wilberforce, Set My People Free, and Christian Freedom International.

The plight of these church leaders highlights the ongoing struggle for religious freedom and human rights in Eritrea. Their imprisonment without charges underscores the need for accountability and justice. As Micah 6:8 reminds us, we are called to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. The international community is urged to stand in solidarity with those who suffer for their faith and to advocate for the release of these unjustly imprisoned leaders.

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