Gebremedhin Gebregergis
Gender: Male
Current Location: Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center
Perpetrator: Eritrea
Religion or Belief: Christian – Orthodox
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Date of Detainment: November/19/2004
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity
Gebremedhin Gebregergis
Extra Bio Info:
Gebremedhin Gebregergis is detained for his religious activity and leadership role.
In November 2004, Eritrean police authorities arrested Gebregergis, a theologian and Eritrean Orthodox priest at the Mekane Hiwet Medhane-Alem Church, for leading an evangelical reform movement within the Orthodox church. Gebregergis taught New Testament in the local language, which the government-controlled Orthodox church prohibited. Gebregergis' arrest came amid a sweep of crackdowns on evangelical pastors and leaders of the Medhane Alem (Savior of the World) renewal movement, following the ban of evangelical churches in 2002. Authorities confined him in Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Interrogation Center and held him incommunicado for over 20 years without charge or trial.
Publicly Available Information:
"Gebremedhin Gebregergis" The Voice of the Martyrs
"Rev Gebremedhin Gebregergis" The Voice of the Martyrs
"From the Outhouse to the Penthouse -- the mesmerizing Genesis 41" First Baptist Thompson
"Eritrea: Orthodox Patriarch dies after 15 years house arrest" Independent Catholic News