Yeneta Ezra, an Eritrean Monk, had been under constant surveillance and was often harassed and intimidated by government security agents for supporting the late Patriarch Antonios. He attended Abune Antonios’ funeral, and was imprisoned and fined 15000 Nakfa (Eritrean currency) for attending that perfectly legitimate religious service, which was his duty. He did not have the money to pay the fine, and in exchange, was not allowed to participate in the church mass services.
Yeneta Ezra was found dead from multiple knife wounds at his monastery residence in Mendefera, on 15 February 2023. The government agents immediately declared his murder to be a suicide, and he was buried without the normal religious services on the 16 February 2023. The murder of such a well-known monk, harassed over many years by government security agents and the government-controlled synod can only be regarded with suspicion. The circumstances of his death raise immediate questions about the complicity of the Eritrean government in his murder. Reliable sources in Eritrea have informed Human Rights Concern- Eritrea that he was killed by the government security agents.
Patriarch Antonios had himself been subjected to decades of persecution by the Eritrean government authorities and was kept under house arrest for 16 years. During his imprisonment, the Eritrean government arranged the appointment of a replacement Patriarch who was never recognised by the authentic Eritrean Orthodox Church.
Yeneta Ezra was directly associated with the views of the late patriarch, and perceived by the Eritrean authorities as a leading figure opposing their illegal take-over of the Eritrean Orthodox church. It would certainly be convenient for the Eritrean government if his voice were to be silenced.
Human Rights Concern-Eritrea (HRCE) utterly condemns this horrific murder of a courageous and dedicated man, and calls upon the international community, the World Council of Churches, and all religious and international human rights bodies to condemn it, and to launch vigorous inquiries into the event, investigating the likely killers and evidence of Eritrean government complicity and involvement.
Human Rights Concern – Eritrea (HRCE)
