- In the latest annual US government report on the state of religious freedom worldwide, the situation in Eritrea was particularly condemned. Today, however, the Eritrean government strikes back, saying "the report is full of sweeping and slanderous accusations."
The US State Department, in its annual world religious freedom report, published in December - had concluded that respect for religious freedom in Eritrea had deteriorated during 2003. Members of unsanctioned religious groups had been harassed, detained and tortured, the report said.
Only four religious groups are officially sanctioned in Eritrea; namely the Orthodox Coptic Church, the Catholic Church, Muslims and the (Lutheran) Evangelical Church of Eritrea. Other groups were ordered to cease their activities in May 2002, awaiting government registration.
However, the US government report says, in the one and a half year after the decree was issued, no other religious group has yet been recognised in Eritrea. Members of these unregistered religious groups meanwhile had been detained, tortured and sexually abused, the US report said.
Today, the Embassy of Eritrea in Washington dismisses the US report, claiming Eritrea is "a secular country with absolute freedom of belief." The report failed "to reflect the objective realities of social and religious life in Eritrea," the Embassy says in a statement.
The Eritrean officials had concluded that the accusations presented in the US report had been "based upon unsubstantiated rumours, disseminated on the internet by some disgruntled Eritreans who lack constituency and credibility."
- The individuals in the State Department who compiled the report from the internet have no clue or knowledge of the cultural dimensions of Eritrean society," the Eritrean Embassy holds.
The US State Department however holds that the report is basically prepared by its local embassies. Thus, the US Embassy in Asmara had been asked to "contribute information and to corroborate reports of human rights violations." The draft report later was "sent to Washington for careful review," where also information from other sources was added.
The Eritrean government nonetheless sees the US government report as just another attack on Eritrea. Also in the annual human rights report, published by the US State Department, the Asmara government had been harshly criticised.
- The latest smearing of Eritrea's reputation through the dissemination of lies and unfounded accusations on religious freedom is part and parcel of a concerted effort to undermine the political and social achievements and progress made in Eritrea as well as an attempt to derail it from its successful path towards economic prosperity, the Eritrean Embassy holds.
The Eritreans ad that peaceful coexistence and religious harmony have been a part of Eritrea's history for centuries, "a history in which we take great pride."
The Eritrean population is divided almost equally between Christians and Muslims and comprised of approximately 14 different religious groups. At large, the population is tolerant of one another's practices and regularly celebrates holidays and major religious events together.
According to the Eritrean officials, "the Constitution provides for the separation of church and state and explicitly recognises the freedom and rights of individuals to follow and practice their chosen religion. It also lays out the legal protection entitled to all citizens against religious discrimination and persecution."
- All religions are viewed equally under the law, the statement goes on, and "therefore are all required to abide by the legal guidelines set forth, including registration and transparent and accountable declaration of funding sources."
All Eritreans further had the same obligations, regardless of religion, the Eritrean Embassy explains. "Religious objections are not sufficient grounds for refusing to recognise the existence and sovereignty of the country as some members of the Jehovah's Witnesses have been doing."
According to the US report, in particular the Christian sect Jehovah's Witnesses had been "singled out" for particularly harsh treatment by Eritrean authorities. The group principally refuses to perform national service and has been denied registration as a religion.
Some Jehovah's Witnesses members were said by the US report to have been detained for more than eight years, although the maximum penalty for refusing to perform national service is three years. Further, members had been evicted from government-owned housing and denied passports, identity cards and exit visas, according to the US report.
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