A Muslim Persecuted for His Faith - Speak Freedom...

21ST CENTURY WILBERFORCE INITIATIVE | 405 NORTH WASHINGTON ST., SUITE 300, FALLS CHURCH, VA 22046 571-297-3177 | INFO@21WILBERFORCE.ORG | WWW.21WILBERFORCE.ORG

SPEAKFREEDOM

TEXASAMuslimPersecutedforHisFaithCollectedbythe21stCenturyWilberforceInitiative,June2014Tags:Eritrea,Refugee,IslamEritreaisoneofthemostbrutaloppressorsofChristianity,andhasthereputationofbeing“TheNorthKoreaofAfrica.”Thecountryisledbyadictatorwhoholdstoaradicalsecularideologythatbelievesallreligionsshouldberemoved.Whileallnationsthereforefacemarginalizationandoppression,evangelicalChristianityisparticularlytargeted.Scholarsestimatethatperhapsasmanyas2,000-3,000individualsareincarceratedfortheirfaithinEritrea.Manyoftheseareimprisonedinbrutalcircumstancesincludinginmetalshippingcontainersthatheatwiththerisingofthesuneachday.WhileChristiansaretargetedinparticular,otherreligionsalsofaceharassmentanddifficultyfromtheEritreangovernmentincludingMuslims.ThisincludesAbrehem,ayoungMuslimprayerleader.

ThankyouforlisteningtomystoryaboutreligiouspersecutioninEritrea.IamaSunniMuslimandIlivedinthesouthernregionofEritrea.Iservedasamuezzinandwouldcallthefaithfultoprayerfivetimesaday.Ieventuallybecamealeaderinthemosquewholedinthedailyprayers.Duringthattime,IhadtwogovernmentofficialsfromtheSecretary’sofficeassignedtome.Theyconstantlystoodbesideme,oneonmyrightsideandtheotheronmyleftside.ThiswastoensurethatIneversaidanythingcriticalaboutthegovernmentduringprayers.Inaddition,eachmorningandeveningIwasforcedtosignapaperattheSecretary’sofficeclarifyingthatIwasn’tgoingtoescape.TherewasfearthatmyescapewouldconveytoothersthemessagethatourIslamicfaithwasbeingpersecutedinEritrea.In2007,thegovernmentputsomuchpressureonourMuslimcommunitythattheyarrestedfourofourSheikhsandsentthemtoprison.TheGovernmentalsowrotearestrictiverulelimitingwhatwecouldteachaboutIslam.Wewereinstructedtoonlyteachcertainpartsofourfaithwhileleavingoutthosepartswhichthegovernmentdisapproved.Ifwedisagreedandwantedtoteachthewholetruthaboutourfaiththerewerethreatsincludingpotentiallyevenbeingshot.Asanexampleofwhatwasforbidden,thegovernmentinstructedusthatwecouldnotteachthedoctrineofTawhid.TawhidisadoctrinereferringtotheonenessofGod.TheydidnotwantustoteachthisdoctrinebecausetheywereafraidofanythingthatwouldhelpuniteSunni,SufiandShi’iteMuslimsintoonecommunity.

Atthetimeoftheinterview,Abrehemhadbeenlivingforafewyearsasarefugeeunemployedandinextraordinarilyharshconditions.