Eritrean bishops protested the government’s seizure of Catholic schools and asked that the Church be enabled to continue its educational and health services.
In a letter to Eritrea’s minister of public education, the bishops asked: “If this is not hatred against the faith and against religion, what else can it be?”
“Our voice of protest” is raised again at the government’s “arbitrary and unilateral measures,” the bishops said, noting that the closure of its schools follows the seizure of its clinics and other medical facilities in June.
The letter was signed by Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam of Asmara, Bishop Thomas Osman of Barentu, Bishop Kidane Yebio of Keren and Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim of Segheneity.
“Actions … taken against our educational and health institutions are contrary to the rights and to the legitimate freedom of the church and heavily limit the exercise of the postulates of faith,” they said.
“We ask that the recent resolutions are reviewed and the consequent course of action promptly stopped.”
The Most Holy Redeemer Secondary School of Asmara’s seminary was closed two years ago, with three other secondary schools closed in September.
The bishops said in June that all health facilities run by the Catholic Church in Eritrea — more than 20, with many on the property of monasteries — had been seized by the government.
In their letter to minister Semere Re’esom, the bishops asked that the Church be allowed to continue its “precious and highly appreciated services to the people.”
They said there should be “open and constructive dialogue” with the government, noting that the Church has always sought dialogue “on everything concerning the situation of our Church and our nation.”
The Catholic Church makes up about 5% of Eritrea’s population of 6 million people.
In April, the bishops angered the government by releasing a pastoral letter calling for a national reconciliation process to go along with respect for human rights and religious freedom.
Ruled by President Isaias Afwerki since 1993, Eritrea has been strongly criticised by human rights groups, especially over reports of detention without trial, open-ended military conscription and bans on some faiths.
Regulations introduced in 1995 limit any developmental activities of religious institutions, including schools, hospitals and agricultural projects.
Picture: Women walk along a street on 20 February 2016 in Asmara, Eritrea. (CNS photo/Thomas Mukoya, Reuters)
