Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Eritrea

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Date of Detainment: September/17/1994

Date of Release: December/4/2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Conscientious Objection

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Negede Teklemariam

Extra Bio Info:

Negede Teklemariam was detained for his religious belief.

On September 17, 1994, authorities arrested Teklemariam for conscientiously objecting to performing compulsory military service.

On December 4, 2020, Teklemariam was released, following concerns about COVID-19 in prisons.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Eritrea

Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Date of Detainment: May/27/2007

Date of Death: February/9/2022

Current Status: Deceased

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: House Arrest

Reason for Persecution: Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Resisting State Interference into Religious Affairs

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Abune Antonios

Extra Bio Info:

Abune Antonios was placed under house arrest and died in state custody for resisting state-interference in church affairs.

On January 20, 2006, authorities notified Antonios, patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, that he would be removed as patriarch and placed under house arrest.  The move by authorities came after Antonios had called for the release of political prisoners and resisted government pressure to excommunicate members of the church. 

On May 27, 2007, the government replaced Antonios with Bishop Dioscoros of Mendefera, forcefully removed Antonios from his home, and detained him at an undisclosed location.

On July 16, 2017, authorities allowed Antonios to make a public appearance for the first time in over a decade, attending mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Asmara.

On July 19, 2017, the government moved Antonios to a new location, reportedly to provide better living conditions.

On February 9, 2022, Patriarch Antonios died after 16 years of house arrest.  The next day, he was buried at Abune Andreas Monastery.

Antonios reportedly suffered from diabetes and was denied proper medical care.

Publicly Available Information:

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Eritrea

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Date of Detainment: September/17/1994

Date of Release: December/4/2020

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Conscientious Objection

Nature of Charges: Not Applicable

Paulos Eyasu

Extra Bio Info:

Paulos Eyasu was detained for his religious belief.

On September 17, 1994, authorities arrested Eyasu for conscientiously objecting to performing compulsory military service.

On December 4, 2020, Eyasu was released, following concerns about COVID-19 in prisons. 

Publicly Available Information:
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