The North Korea of Africa

Dr Berhane: 0:00
Sometimes they go from house to house at 5 a.m in the morning; they raid the houses they they take them in their pyjamas. There should not be any Bible believing Christians Eritrea.

Paul Robinson: 0:16
Across the world today, millions of Christians are persecuted. They face discrimination, imprisonment, displacement and even death simply because of their faith in Jesus Christ. These courageous believers are our brothers and sisters. We are in this together with them and we need to hear their voice. Join host Sarah as we discover their stories today on Release International's Voice Podcast.

Sarah: 0:45
Eritrea has been described as the North Korea of Africa, a comparison that immediately lets us understand just how difficult things must be for the Christians who live there. On today's podcast, I'm joined by Dr Berhane, the head of Release Eritrea, a Release International project partner for the work that we do. Much of the work that he does is extremely sensitive, and we won't be able to discuss the details but listen in as we talk about his home country, the people he knows and loves, and his determination to work on behalf of those who suffer there for Jesus.

Sarah: 1:21
Welcome Dr. Berhane to the Voice Podcast. We're supposed to be meeting face to face but because of this coronavirus pandemic we're going to try and record this podcast over the Internet, so hopefully it'll work just as well. Let me start by introducing you. You're the Director of Release Eritrea. How long have we been partnered together? Now it's a number of years, isn't it?

Dr Berhane: 1:42
15 years since 2005

Sarah: 1:44
A long time. Some of our listeners may not know that much about Eritrea because it's not in the news that much, and it's not very well known. It's not exactly a tourist destination. So could you just give us a brief overview of the country like where it is on the map and how long it's been officially recognised as a country, who's the president, that sort of thing?

Dr Berhane: 2:06
Okay, it is located in the Horn of Africa, so it is just at the tip of Ethiopia, on the Red Sea Coast. Opposite to Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Eritrea used to be part of Ethiopia and after 30 years of struggle for independence, Eritrea got its independence in 1993. Then and after our independence we didn't have any election and we have no constitution. So since then we have one president and his name is serious work on. Initially, the president seemed to be charismatic and he was at mild by by the West and they thought he will be like a fresh air to Africa. At that time. He was very eloquent. Hey was speaking more about democracy about him. All right, so everybody liked him. But slowly he turned to be a dictator. In the 97 we were supposed to tow have this sabbatical constitution, but he delayed it. Then he started war against Utopia. In 98 it was a bloody war. About 100,000 people lives were lost from both sides with them edition in negation of the U. N were stopped. But after that the president started to become more dictator. So he arrested all political opponents all on DH, even his friends, new sales hard me generals, journalists on DH. And in 2002 he's started also to attack religious groups, especially the evangelicals and most Protestants. Since then, the church never been opened and hundreds and thousands of Christians have bean in prison. So that is the situation in everything.

Sarah: 4:32
Does the president have allies abroad? Or does Eritrea act alone on the global stage

Dr Berhane: 4:38
usually acts alone. But he changed friends so sometimes he'd be friends with Sudan, sometimes with Qatar Now he recently he changed too Saudi and haemorrhoids. Eso Lydia used to be his closest ally. S o. He always switches friends.

Sarah: 4:59
You're from Eritrea, right? You? Yes. You suffered persecution, I believe when it was still under the Ethiopian regime. Could you tell us a bit about your storey?

Dr Berhane: 5:10
Yes. When I first became a Christian Ah, the church was closed. So we had a meeting in this house. Well, I was invited by some sisters who are working in the hospital. And at the time I gave my life to Christ. So we're holding all our services in secret. But we were harassment against it. Almost all of us, All of their house, Good of members. I have experienced prison in my case. I was taken to the city and I stayed for 11. Man's is so at that time. It was not as bad as it's now, But I was never been charged on DH. I never you know being taken to the court. Nothing. Then in 99 I came tto UK to study theology while I was here while I was studying on the government shut all order to shut all cheques in 2000 and two, and initially we thought we could carry on with underground church. But he started to go toe from house to house and artist Christian Dennis. So it's tough to get worse. So when I compare it, it was much easier when I was arrested on what's happening. Now

Sarah: 6:41
let's talk about what's happening now. Then you mentioned sort of being rounded up house raids so you could be sent home, say, looking after your family and then the police arrive at your doorstep and take you to an unknown place, and then you're not seen for years. Is that what happens a lot to Christians?

Dr Berhane: 7:01
Yes, that that's what's happening. Sometimes they go from house to house 5 a.m. In the morning for the houses, and they they take them in their pyjamas. There should not be any Bible believing Christians in the Erica so that the main project of the government

Sarah: 7:21
so it's not really hard to see why every tree, every sometimes referred to as the North Korea off Africa.

Dr Berhane: 7:28
Everything's a bit worse than North Korea because in North Korea at least people get work and also some of them get salary on. Do you see a lot off development in the country? But in any share our President Yoon in the country, we used to have a lot of actress. Now we have no factory. He described a long time. Ah, he banned. Ah, construction So nobody can build their house is so, um that is always limitation off travel. Nobody can leave the country if they are under 60. I think around 55. So even this worse than North Korea, it's the But since he's a total Italian government is you have to praise the government, the president every day so that the name, then anything, what they want from their people. So you see, sometimes those who follow him, they have to go with go out to the streets with the pictures with the picture of the president, and they have to praise him like worship him like the North Korean guy. So that's the similarity.

Sarah: 8:44
So he wants. He wants to be revered by his country. Many of our listeners will be familiar with the Storey of Helen Ba Hani. She's of no relation relation to us. She knows she is not. I think behind it is a common Eritrean name, isn't it? It is. But she talked about being in prison in her book Song of the Night and Go, which is quite a shocking read. She talks about being arrested for her Christian activities back in the early two thousand's, and she spent more than two and 1/2 years in prison. But in that time she talks about being beaten on, deprived off the most basic provisions, and she was kept in a metal shipping container. That was 14 years ago. Now, roughly, Is that the sort of conditions that that Christians now are being held in? Some of

Dr Berhane: 9:32
them, yes. Even those who are in prison with Helen 14 single are still in prison.

Sarah: 9:39
Well, that's quite striking, isn't it? So that people that are mentioned in some of the nightingale who are still in prison at the moment

Dr Berhane: 9:47
Yes. Yeah, they're still in prison. I know 11 girl. She was 16 when she was arrested. Now she's letting 31 or something like that. So she spent more. Most off her. You know what you call

Sarah: 10:03
prime years?

Dr Berhane: 10:04
Yeah. Kind years. Yeah. This was a year that she was supposed to go toe. You need to get married toe all this important things, But still, she is in prison.

Sarah: 10:16
I mean, it's hard to imagine 14 years, but I suppose the best way to imagine is thinking what we were doing 14 years ago. And imagine being in prison the whole time. Yes. What were the conditions like for them? Do you know?

Dr Berhane: 10:30
Yeah. It is changed from time to time. When they were first arrested, they were in my sorrow in containers with Helen. Then they were taken Toa another prison called We are It is in the around the Red Sea cost, and it is one of the hottest in the world is very hot. And that was the worst place to be then that wass like I think many jets in that prison and the little prisoner started tow die. And they shut that prison and move them to another place called my editor. Matter is also on the other side ofthe against because it's very hold. That's thie, a lot off the sandstone, and it's remote so that they stayed there. I think for about 10 years, then in also people start to die in that place. So they moved them back toe my throughout the place they started. That's in a saga that the place where Helen was now they are in my through, but they're not in a container. I think searching is much better for the now, but they've been in prison for 14 and 15 years old. We can't say better, but they are not. Content

Sarah: 12:03
is at least something to hear that that conditions are slightly better than they used to be. And you mentioned the spread of meningitis in the prison. Obviously, the topic that's on everyone's mind at the moment is Thie Corona virus. Do you know whether that virus has spread their into into the prisons in particular?

Dr Berhane: 12:22
So far, there's no any report from America about Cardinal O'Hara's is one of the free coronavirus countries. It's mainly very few people visits any fear, so that could be the main reason. But with with time, who knows? Because now almost every country in this world has have been has been affected. So we never know that we hope that it wouldn't. It wouldn't happen in any fear. Prison situation. They're overcrowded. Ah, so if it enters the prison, I know what had happened there

Sarah: 13:09
today. I'm talking to release partner Dr Bahaa Ronnie. He has given us a valuable insight into the history and politics of Eritrea, which helped to explain why so many Christians have been targeted and imprisoned. Keep listening as he shares his commitment to identify with those prisoners and also to hear some fresh signs of hope. Despite the cost, people are still deciding to follow Jesus in Eritrea, you also mentioned the heat. And I've heard you say before that Eritrean prisoners often set sent to the Red Sea coast to be punished by the heat in the same way that the Soviets sent prisoners to Siberia to be punished by the cold. What is the temperature like? There

Dr Berhane: 13:51
is sometimes 45 for three. Ah, it's for seven. It depends on the season, but Muslims over 40 especially in a place where there is no air conditioning or Bentley there. And they said when they are locked in a small room. It's very it's unbearable. And we have some prisoners in the islands is called the Heloc Islands. I think the allotments like hell because in the olden times it was used by by the Arabs. Ahs prison. Last year, one off our brother died in that I learned his name is fulsome. He met his wife in the refugee camp and she told me two years after his areas, they brought his body and they gave it to her. So she's young, she's only 72 she has fortune in

Sarah: 14:54
How do you cope when you hear storeys like this? How do you continue to fight?

Dr Berhane: 15:00
Yeah, it's the only thing that I saw. Violet is because I'm fighting. So sometimes I feel in the night as defined in those prisons on and I used to have, like, nightmare initially. But now I think I I'm getting used to it. But whenever I hear storeys, I always struggle to handle it in our visitors are refuges. We had a lot of storeys and every person had storeys very traumatic, and I always share in their chroma. So because this as part off the body of Christ. So I don't see myself as I am in a free country. And they are on, you know, on the other end. We are all together.

Sarah: 15:55
Yeah, it is so important, isn't it? To when people are feeling isolated and alone to know that there they've got brothers and sisters. And I think people in the UK are beginning to grasp that perhaps for the first time now that we can't gather is a congregation, likely usti. It's given us a little taste of into what it's like to feel cut off.

Dr Berhane: 16:16
It's only been a few weeks in this country to this call innovators, and you can test you know, the impact off it on the economy, on the business and social life. So in militia, they've been living like that for the past 30 years. Even they are not meeting the houses. They always get traded by the security. So they make you come here in fear are in hiding. So it's a little like a small test. And also the same year now we had a lot ofthe loved ones, you know, pass away because of the cardinal. There's if the same also in America a lot ofthe Christians and also family members. Guy in the it's like slavery. So when people work in the desert in the phone because ofthe lack off medical care, a lot of people, that young people. So it is like a small test on that.

Sarah: 17:22
Are there signs of hope behind me work? Do you think the regime will change anytime soon? Do you think there will never be a democracy or a constitution or, um, more than just one political Parton party in Eritrea in the future?

Dr Berhane: 17:41
Yeah. About three years ago, when there was a change in Ethiopia, we hoped also, something will happen in Eritrea. But now we giving up hope because the region has committed so many crimes the same like like Gadhafi or like Saddam, because they know they cannot leave peacefully in the country after they committed this awful crimes. So sometimes we give up hope, but you never know. Um, God can surprise us. So weigh all are waiting for this.

Sarah: 18:24
What do you think God is doing through all this? You mean very sovereign. Can you see a glimpse into what he's doing? I

Dr Berhane: 18:31
think they're not some positive, you know, When we went to Utopia, we found some Bible translators, and they were translating Bible into some minority ethnic groups. And we never had questions from this minority groups. I remember when I was everything we had on outreach to all the screw ups, and we couldn't find a single convert. But now I met from this rope. They were translating the Bible into their language, and when I speak to them, they were convicted in the military arm. You know, some of them were converted in prison, so sometimes we see some, you know, bright light or that's some got is working in way in people slice. That shot is also who found Jesus in prison, and the number of patients is. I think we have more questions now than 20 unstable. So although this strong clock down from the government, but they couldn't control it because it's God's work, it's not human work. So you can see the greatness ofthe even imprisons his thing at work.

Sarah: 19:48
I mean, that's the paradox off Christianity, isn't it that use the power of God is often shown in the most weakest, lowest, isolated, darkest place? You mentioned that you visited Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia, and I know that that's a project that released supports. We might feel like we know the answer to this already. Why do Eritrean Christians leave the country on what is life like for them once they've left?

Dr Berhane: 20:17
Yeah, you know, it's not easy to leave your country, especially some of this. Thiss people are so young sucking 40 year old, and they have tto be get smuggled illegally by some smugglers on DH. They Sometimes they are faced with unfriendly countries like in Sudan, Egypt, Libya. Luckily, it Oka is much friendly for Americans because, or similarity off off culture, religion and language. But even in Ethiopia, it's not easy to live in a small place like in a tent under unhygienic conditions. But still they agree that

Sarah: 21:10
there's a real danger, I presume. If those area trains went back to Eritrea,

Dr Berhane: 21:16
Anybody who is forcefully returns to Eritrea is waiting for imprisonment. So that's what you get.

Sarah: 21:27
And what would happen if you went back you? Would you be in danger as well?

Dr Berhane: 21:31
Even my movement in Utopia is it has to be secretly because I am one on the wanted list because I'm being opposing the garden since 2000 and three. So they don't like me speaking So it's not only me. Those who open the criticised the government are in danger. I

Sarah: 21:53
would get

Dr Berhane: 21:54
out incident at the airport and never bean scene again

Sarah: 21:58
and does. Does that worry you? Because you're very brave and speaking out through all these years against the government? Does that do you worry about the danger that you're in?

Dr Berhane: 22:09
No, I never been worked the digital on because I always compare my life to those who are in prison. Those aren't prison. Some time with my old friends are in prison. They were arrested in 2000 and four. Now it's 16 years and I knew. I know if I was, I would be part of them. I would be with them. So when I compare my life to them, yeah, I had the opportunity to terrorise my daughter and also had the opportunity to walk freely in this reward. So I always see myself one of the most privileged. So that's why why should I get scared?

Sarah: 23:00
Well, that's really humbling to here at a time like this, when a lot of Christians in the UK will be feeling frightened and overwhelmed. Andi. It inspires us to be brave and courageous and to speak out and to do what we can. And on that note, how can we pray for Eritrea? What can we do?

Dr Berhane: 23:20
We need to pay for change because the president has been there too long on also junk off policy. And above all, we want all way on all prisoners to get released. And also we need to pray for protection for those Christians who are still united. Although they face thiss construction every day, they they wanted to stay and also for God's guidance so they could do only what God wants them to do.

Sarah: 23:56
Thank you so much behind me for taking the time to share with us today. God bless you.

Dr Berhane: 24:02
Seem to you thank you very much.

Sarah: 24:07
As the UK responds to the Corona virus pandemic, we are experiencing a level of restriction and isolation we haven't known before. We can hold on to the relative comforts of home during this period, but these new experiences are opening up for us at least a partial window into the circumstances of so many of our Christian brothers and sisters across the world. As Dr Rouhani says, Questions have been living like this 30 years in Eritrea. Perhaps we can spend some time reflecting on that over the next few months and sharing doctor behind his burden to stand as one with our Christian family in Eritrea. Thank you so much for listening to release internationals, boys. Podcast. Please do subscribe to your favourite podcasts up and stay connected to the voice of persecuted Christians. There are many other ways you can get involved for more information, how you, Khun Prai and support particularly believers across the world. Please visit our website www dot release international dot Aug. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, instagram and YouTube. Remember those who are in prison as if you were in there together with them on those who are mistreated A Ziff You yourselves was suffering. Do not abandon them.