As some of you may know, certain anti-Christian elements in the
Eritrean government has taken it upon themselves to attack the
Eritrean Orthodox Church, and imprison and mistreat its beloved
patriarch, H.H. Abune Antonious. The mistreatment of the aged and
venerable father, and other faithful Orthodox Christians, has been
such that even Amnesty International has become involved and
concerned for their rights. Please help to save them from torture
and barbaric mistreatment at the hands of the excommunicated Mr.
Yoftahe Demetros (former government-appointed "General Secretary of
the Holy Synod") and other government forces.

I urge all in this group to join me in taking action by writing to
the following:

Mr. Yoftahe Demetros
General Secretary of the Holy Synod
P.O. BOX 728
Asmara ERITREA

Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
H.H. Pope Shenouda III
Rameses St. Abbassia CairoEGYPT Fax: 202-682-2215


Amnesty International has made it very easy by preparing text for
those who do not have time to compose their own letter, along with
the following synopsis of the situation...

Express Concern for the well-being of Abune Antonios, Patriarch of
the Orthodox Church, Held Under House Arrest in Eritrea.Amnesty
International is deeply concerned about Abune Antonios, age 79, who
has remained under house arrest in Asmara since January 2006.

Abune Antonios was stripped of his ecclesiastical authority and
forbidden to participate in the Church's administrative affairs by
the government of Eritrea in August 2005. He is reported to have
appeared in person at the office of President Issayas Afwerki in
late 2004 to protest the arrest and imprisonment of three Orthodox
priests, Reverend Dr.Futsum Gebrenegus, Reverend Dr. Tekleab
Mengisteab, and Reverend Gebremedhin Gebreghiorghis. These priests
had been leaders of the Mekane Hiwet Medhane Alem Church, an
internal Orthodox movement that drew thousands of younger followers
to weekly Sunday school classes and Bible study. In July 2005,
Yitbarek Berhe, a deacon of the Orthodox Church, deputy
administrator of the church synod (council) and adviser to the
Patriarch, was reportedly arrested after being forced to resign from
his post.

In January 2006, authorities reportedly placed Abune Antonios under
formal house arrest. He was accused of refusing to cooperate with
the government in closing down the Medhane Alem Church and
protesting the arrest of the above-named individuals. Abune Antonios
argued that his dismissal was in direct violation of long-
established Church canons, under which a Patriarch's election is a
lifetime appointment that cannot be revoked. He was subsequently
stripped of his Patriarchal vestments and holy artifacts in January
2007.

Abune Antonios has reportedly been held incommunicado since January
20, 2007. He suffers from diabetes and is reportedly not receiving
medical attention. In addition to revoking his salary, the
authorities have also forbidden Abune Antonios from having any
contact with Orthodox followers and from attending or leading
worship services. He has not been permitted to receive communion for
the past year. The interim Church leadership, appointed by the
government under Mr. Yoftahe Dimetros, has also reportedly
excommunicated two prominent Church scholars, Andeberhan
Gebremariam, Teweldemedhin Mengistu; two priests, Fr. Debretsion
Araya and Fr.Yonas Debretsion; and another 60 parishioners who
supported Abune Antonios. Excommunication is an extremely serious
matter that precludes attendance at worship services, handling
Bibles or other holy artifacts, taking communion, baptizing one's
children, attending funerals, and being buried in consecrated
ground.

Background - -

Since 2002, the government of Eritrea has severely curtailed
religious expression. It officially recognized Orthodox, Catholic
and Lutheran Christian churches and Islamic institutions, but has
recently begun interfering in these as well. Members of some 35
minority Christian evangelical churches continue to face especially
fierce persecution, even though freedom of religion is guaranteed in
the Eritrean Constitution.

Approximately 2,000 members of minority churches, including about 20
pastors, and dozens of Orthodox Christians and Muslims, are
currently detained. Detainees are held incommunicado in harsh
conditions without charge or trial. They are imprisoned in police
stations at first, then in army camps and security prisons in
different parts of the country, including the main military training
centre at Sawa. Some are held in metal shipping containers and
underground prisons. Several detainees have become seriously ill and
are rarely provided with adequate medical treatment. They are
repeatedly tortured by being beaten and being tied up in painful
positions.

For more information on religious persecution in Eritrea

http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGAFR640132005

Send letters to:

Mr. Yoftahe Dimetros
General Secretary of the Holy Synod
and Pope Shenouda III, Coptic Orthodox Patriarch.

Mr. Yoftahe Demetros
General Secretary of the Holy Synod
P.O. BOX 728Asmara ERITREA
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
H.H. Pope Shenouda IIIRameses St. Abbassia Cairo
EGYPT
Fax: 202-682-2215

In your letters: •Express concern for Abune Antonios' well-being
under conditions of incommunicado house arrest; •Demand that Abune
Antonios be given access to adequate medical care, family members,
and parishioners; •Ask that Abune Antonios and other Orthodox
Christians be allowed to practice their faith without fear of
persecution and interference by government authorities and
government-appointed church leaders.We have provided a sample letter
below, but please be encouraged to add your own thoughts:

Sample Letter:Mr. Yoftahe Demetros
General Secretary of the Holy Synod
P.O. BOX 728A
smara ERITREA

Dear Mr. Demetros:

I am deeply concerned about the fate of the Patriarch of the
Eritrean Orthodox Church, 79-year-old Abune Antonios who has
remained under incommunicado house arrest in Asmara since January
2006. He suffers from diabetes and reportedly is not receiving
necessary medical attention. In August 2005, the Eritrean Government
stripped Abune Antonios of his ecclesiastical authority and forbade
him to participate in the Church's administrative affairs. In
January 2006, authorities reportedly placed Abune Antonios under
formal house arrest for protesting the arrest of three Orthodox
priests of the Medhane Alem Church, and for refusing to cooperate
with the government in closing down that Church. Abune Antonios
argued that his dismissal was in direct violation of long-
established Church canons, under which a Patriarch's election is a
lifetime appointment that cannot be revoked. He was subsequently
stripped of his Patriarchal vestments and holy artifacts in January
2007.

In addition to revoking his salary, the authorities have also
forbidden Abune Antonios from having any contact with Orthodox
followers and from attending or leading worship services and taking
communion. I call on you to ensure that Abune Antonios and other
Orthodox Christians be allowed to practice their faith without fear
of persecution and interference by government authorities and
government-appointed Church leaders. I also respectfully request
that Abune Antonios be given access to adequate medical care, and be
allowed to communicate with his family members, and parishioners
while he is under house arrest.
Sincerely,copy to:

Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
H.H. Pope Shenouda III
Rameses St. Abbassia Cairo
EGYPT
fax: 202-682-2215