28 Jehovah’s Witnesses jailed for faith released from prison in Eritrea

Admin l Saturday, December 05, 2020

 

ASMARA, Eritrea – After spending so many years in prison for not committing any offence but just because they are members of the most peaceful and law abiding religious organisation – Jehovah’s Witnesses, the authorities in Eritrea have released 28 members of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses were released on Friday, December 04, 2020. Among those released were 26 brothers and two sisters.

They have spent between 5 and 26 years in prison.  President Isaiahs Afwerki has nevertheless held on to 24 others members of Jehovah’s Witnesses in their various prisons.

Nevertheless, “All have maintained uncompromising integrity to Jehovah God. As a worldwide association of brothers, we rejoice over this development. At the same time, we will continue to keep the 24 brothers and sisters who remain in prison in Eritrea in our thoughts and prayers.—Acts 12:5”, Jehovah’s Witnesses said on their website.

Many of the Jehovah’s Witnesses were arrested in Eritrea during their annual memorial in commemoration of Jesus’ death in Asmara in April 2014.

Among them was Saron Gebru who was brought to court for trial on January 2016 after her arrest at the  Memorial in Asmara in April 2014.

“This was the first time that authorities formally charged Witnesses with a “crime” and gave them an opportunity to make a defense. As expected, most of the brothers and sisters on trial were found guilty of attending an “illegal” meeting, fined, and then released.

However, Saron Gebru, one of the accused sisters, refused to accept the fine. For this, she was sentenced to six months in prison. Saron  Gebru was able to receive visitors once a week and reported that she was treated well..