The defenseless Jehovah's Witnesses Aida Kidane, 10 June 2003       The subject of the Jehovah's Witnesses was suddenly highlighted during the Referendum in April 1993. A government official released a statement they had refused to vote, and this naturally roused fury among the people, which was the intention. But how many were they? Nobody seemed to know their exact number and estimated them to roughly over a thousand in all Eritrea.      I had intense discussions with former fighters why the government (and some fighters) judged the Jehova's so harshely. In actual number, they were so few in porportion to the population, their opposition would not damage the outcome of the vote. A good example I heard was a woman whose only son was martyred in the struggle, she had grieved a lot and at last found solace in the sect.      From my basic knowledge of the religion, it was not easy to differentiate the "Yehovas" from the "Pentes" before that time. Just to initiate controversy, I would ask those I knew well "Are you Yehova" The typical answer was "Yehova means God, I'm Yehovah's Witness" And to the Pente, they claimed to be "Christians" not Pentes. But I had respect to all religions.      During the Haile Selassis era in Addis, the Jehovas were persecuted and worshiped in hiding. When they were caught praying they would be thrown in prison for a few days and released with their heads shaved. During the regime of Col. Mengistu's their numbers seem to have multiplied in tenfold, in that "Socialist" age of repression. A relative told me that he was forced to join the government's Workers Party member (ESEPA) which he had no desire being part of. To escape from it, he claimed to be a Pente and frequented the church. This was good ground to be released and he was left alone.      I got increasingly curious of the religion and its practice and subsequently met some Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) - after intnese interaction, it confirmed my belief that they lacked broader awareness, and to be honest, I found them to be a nuisance. They called on people's homes at all hours of the day and people told me they sent their dogs on them or cast water on them as they were adamant on their calling. Yet, there is always a small percentage in every society differing considerably that they were ignored.      After Referendum, the J.W. lost their rights to citizenship. Thus, they were laid off their jobs, they could not buy or sell properties, could not travel abroad or get passports. Despite my own misgiving of the religion and their practice, I felt the government had gone too far in its intolerance of a religious minority. The authorities were steadfast on the decision and would not consider appeals. It appeared to me that the Jehova Witnesses were being scapegoats for the increasing scale and visibility of of the Jihad movement. they were a small minority of religious group who were completely defenceless, making their prosecution easy. Ironically, rather than come to the defence of their counterparts, he Pentes were afraid for their own safety and and started talking against the J.W. I remember one particular J.W. woman who was a well qualified surgery nurse with over 25 years experience in the Mekane Hewet Hospital. She was summarily fired from her job during a perid of acute shortage of qualified persons. Others were threatned and even physically attacked.      In 1992, the torture chambers in Gibbi Inda Afras in Asmera were preparing to be painted and I saw a cross marks in one of the tiny cells. I was told it was the work of a J.W. who was tortured and killed for refusing to comply and participate in any government activities. The JW believed in a heavenly God as their ruler on earth and refuse to take part in any violence. They practiced strict codes to live by, they did not drink, fight, kill, steal or do harm to othrs. This should have come as welcome news, when many of us remembr that drinking was a major problem in 1991 that a curfew had to be instituted to all drinking outlets in Asmera.      In recent months we are hearing of their increase attack once again - and no one is coming to their defence. Their cause is no different than any minority group which differs from the rest of society, whether it is on political or religious grounds. The Eritrean Constitution fully guarantees the freedom of expression and religious belief and practice. The government's lack of tolerance is just another act of repression against a group that have different views. Historically, Eritrea is not the first country to persecute the JW. During the Second World War in Mazi Germany,.......... Association of Contemporary Church Historians (Arbeitsgemeinschaft kirchlicher Zeitgeschichtler) John S. Conway, Editor. University of British Columbia Newsletter No. 11, December 1995 ..The J.Ws were the first religious group to be forbidden and continued to suffer unremittingly throughout the Nazi era. No other religious community demonstrated its resistance in so decidedly an uncompromising fashion, or so steadfastly refused to bow down to the Nazi wishes. Thousands were incarcerated in concentration camps, where their resolute determination to keep on witnessing to their faith gave them an extraordinary reputation, and even finally earned a grudging respect from Himmler himself. .. ..Some Nazis believed the J.Ws were part of a communist conspiracy; others suspected them of being Jewish or American infiltrators. In any case the Nazi authorities proceeded promptly in 1933 to ban their activities throughout Germany - measures which were greeted with approval by the main-stream churches, who had long been aggravated by the J.Ws sectarian proselytism... Theologically the J.Ws had long been prepared for persecution by the "satanic" forces of the Church, especially the Roman Catholics, and the state. Repression only made them more resolute. This steadfast obstinacy only increased the Nazis' determination to suppress the sect entirely, and gave them an explicitly political excuse to stamp out "subversive agitation". Already in 1933 J.Ws were dismissed from their jobs in both the public and private sector, their pensions confiscated, and their livelihoods restricted.... The outbreak of war and the J.Ws unwavering determination not to take part in any military activities led to even more severe repression, and to numerous death sentences, not only for men of military age but also for women, often imposed by the notorious People's Court. Doubts expressed by some of the justice officials were brutally overruled by Hitler himself in favour of exemplary deterrent measures against all such "defeatist traitors"... www.discmultimedia.com/discresources/standfirm/quotes.htm - dok storlek: 27kB - engelska HISTORIANS AND OBSERVERS COMMENT ON THE HISTORY OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES DURING THE HOLOCAUST Madame Geneviève de Gaulle, niece of General Charles de Gaulle, interned in Ravensbrück: "I am very glad to be able to convey to you my testimony regarding the Bible Students whom I met in the Ravensbruck [women's] camp. "Indeed, I have true admiration for them. They belonged to various nationalities: German, Polish, Russian and Czech, and have endured very great sufferings for their beliefs. . . . All of them showed very great courage and their attitude commanded eventually even the respect of the S.S. They could have been immediately freed if they had renounced their faith. But, on the contrary, they did not cease resistance, even succeeding in introducing books and tracts into the camp, which writings caused several among them to be hanged". "Will Hatred Ever End?" The Watchtower 15 June 1995 Elie Wiesel, Nobel Prize winner and Holocaust survivor, writes: "The duty of the survivor is to bear testimony to what happened . . . You have to warn people that these things can happen, that evil can be unleashed. Race hatred, violence, idolatries-they still flourish." The history of the 20th century provides proof that hatred is not a fire that will burn itself out. The defenceless journalist Ezra This young man was recently publicised as a criminal and shown on video in the internet. It was ridiculous to brand him with such charges while the real major offenders are the onese who should have been interviewed. This young man is bright and gifted and considerate to his friends. He has clearly stated not taking any money. It was not long ago in the midst of the war that youths went abroad right from the front lines, and had paid in the many thousands. Who were responsible for this? Student I.D. cards were sold in the many that all high school cards were changed. In struggle time, many had done daring deeds. I remember stories of fighters capturing a weapon or vehicle and repair it or dismantle it and use it in a unique way. A couple had even highjacked airplanes. They were heroes to their peers and as enemy by the government. It reminded me of Yemane Barya in Khartoum. He was so kind that he forged many people's papers for free or very little money, and even bought airline tickets to the needy. So Ezra the small potato is grilled the worst! For me he is a brave young man and it's important he did not do it for gain. In fighting crime and corruption, it should be stamped out irrelevant of who sits in power.	Submit Article | Feedback Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Aida Kidane, who is solely responsible for the contents of this page, contributes the above article. For any comments, the writer can be contacted by e-mail:  aikisw@hotmail.com