The Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses in East Africa has appealed to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to revoke a 1994 decree that stripped Eritrean-born Jehovah’s Witnesses of citizenship, work, and property rights. This decree has left them stateless and subject to severe repression, including imprisonment, torture, and denial of essential services.
Recently, 24 Jehovah’s Witnesses were detained during worship, with 23 still imprisoned without charge. The decree has led to over 270 detentions and several deaths. Human rights advocates, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kenya, have highlighted individual stories of suffering, emphasizing the impact on family life, health, and livelihoods. International groups continue to call on Eritrea to recognize the community’s right to peaceful worship and to release all detained members.
