One of the many churches that have been the target of such a relentless
campaign has been Kidane Mehret [tr. Covenant of Mercy] Eritrean Orthodox
Church in Nairobi, Kenya. It is to be remembered that two years ago the
former priest there, Fr. Hadgu W. Haimanot, was forced out of his church
for opposing the unwarranted interference in church affairs by the
Eritrean Embassy in Nairobi. When his life was threatened, Fr. Hadgu had
taken refuge at the UNHCR in Nairobi, eventually being settled in the US.
Four years ago, there was another priest in the Sudan, Fr. Ghebreberhan
Fesseha, who escaped assassination attempt by agents of the regime.
The latest victim is Fr. Berhane Haileab, an erstwhile supporter of the
regime. He was brought from Asmara to replace Fr. Hadgu nearly two years
ago. Since he took his post, this priest has run into the same trouble
with the embassy as his predecessor, reportedly for taking a similar
stand.
Yoftahe Dimetros, the political appointee who has been running the
Eritrean Orthodox Church as a mere department of the repressive regime
over the past eight years, was brought to Kenya in mid-December to force
Fr. Berhane to obey orders from the embassy. When the priest stood his
ground, Yoftahe handed him a letter ordering the priest to present
himself in Asmara, Eritrea by December 24, 2009. Fr. Berhane still
refused, putting Yoftahe’s own legitimacy and authority over the Eritrean
Orthodox Church into question.
On January 3, 2010, at the behest of the Eritrean Embassy in Nairobi,
members of the ruling party in Eritrea broke into Fr. Berhane’s residence
and took away all his belongings. After having been barred from entering
the church building and with threats on his life, Fr. Berhane Haileab has
since gone into hiding in Nairobi. ICFC has learned that he has requested
and has been granted protection from the UNHCR in Nairobi.
To provide a balanced view of the situation here, it is important to give
a little background information on Fr. Berhane Haileab. Before he was
transferred to Nairobi, he had wreaked havoc within the Orthodox Church
as Mr. Yoftahe’s trusted right-hand person. He had played an enthusiastic
role in the evil campaign to deposing the legitimate Patriarch, H. H.
Abune Antonios, and vigorously defended the arrest of many clergies. In
fact, he was assigned to Nairobi because he was an ardent servant of the
regime and of Mr. Yoftahe. In short, ICFC has sufficiently corroborated
Fr. Berhane’s unsavory past as an agent of destruction and persecution.
He has much to answer for and a great deal of work awaits him to redeem
himself. Nevertheless, ICFC still opposes the treatment he has received
at the hands of the same regime he had served so faithfully.
The government of Eritrea has received world-wide condemnation for its
savage persecution of Christians and others. Eritrea is one of 8
countries listed by the US State Department as CPC (Countries of
Particular Concern) for its flagrant abuse and persecution of Christians.
Many churches have been ordered closed since May 2002. Nearly 3500
Christians are languishing in prisons. Tens of thousands have fled the
country. Scores of church leaders, including the Patriarch of the
Eritrean Orthodox Church and priests, remain in prison.
ICFC once again calls on the Eritrean government to release all prisoners
of conscience, and respect its citizens’ inalienable right to worship
freely.
