Helen Berhane

Helen Berhane (born c. 1975) is a Christian Gospel singer who was a prisoner in Eritrea.

Berhane is a member of the Rema church, one of several minority Evangelical Christian churches not officially recognized by the state of Eritrea and heavily persecuted. She was arrested on 13 May 2004, shortly after she released an album of Christian music, after refusing to sign a document pledging to end all participation in Evangelical activities, effectively forcing her to abandon her prohibited evangelical faith and music. She was detained at Mai Serwa military camp, north of the capital Asmara. Berhane reported that she spent most of her day locked inside a metal shipping container, in unsanitary and inhumane conditions; she had no possibility of contact with her family and was denied legal representation or medical care.

On Eritrean Independence Day, 24 May 2006, Amnesty International renewed their appeal to Eritrea's President Isaias Afewerki to ensure the improvement of human rights standards in the country. Five of the six female prisoners Amnesty International appealed for the release of last year on this date, including Berhane, were still held at the time. They had not been charged with anything nor brought to any court.

Berhane's 2003 album, "T' Kebaeku" (I Am Anointed), was re-released in Europe in June 2006.

Release

On 2 November 2006 it was reported that Berhane was released from prison in late October 2006. [cite web|title=Helen Berhane - Eritrea|url=http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=10|accessdate=2006-11-02] She and her daughter Eva were granted asylum in Denmark after fleeing to the Sudanese capital of Khartoum for refuge. [cite web|title=Asylum for Eritrean gospel singer|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7056120.stm]

References

External links

* [http://www.amnesty.org.uk/gcc/2005/cases/berhane/ Amnesty International report on Berhane's case]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6117496.stm BBC Article on Helen Berhane's release in 2006]
* [http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/eritrea/document.do?id=ENGUSA20051206002 Information on religious persecution in Eritrea] * [http://www.standrewsbookshop.co.uk/pages/data.asp?layout=product.htm&IdISBN.exact=6000024991 St. Andrew's Bookshop - T' Kebaeku]