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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000862 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR AFRICA WATCHERS, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF ER
SUBJECT: HELEN BERHANE IN HOSPITAL AFTER BEING BEATEN 
 
 
Classified By: AMB. Scott H. DeLisi for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Post has confirmed reports that Helen Berhane, noted 
Eritrean Evangelical Christian gospel singer, is receiving 
medical treatment at Halibet Hospital in Asmara.  The 
hospital admitted Ms. Berhane after she was severely beaten 
while detained in the Mai Serwa prison.  At this time her 
condition is stable.  Presently, she is in a wheelchair with 
a leg injury so severe she is unable to walk. Berhane 
confirmed to her family and the doctors at the hospital that 
she had been beaten in prison.  Post does not know if Berhane 
experienced other forms of torture. 
 
¶2.  (C)  Berhane was hospitalized on or about October 7. 
Upon being notified secretly of Berhane,s hospitalization by 
a member of the hospital staff, her family came to visit her. 
 For several days other friends and fellow church members 
also saw her in the hospital, however, the hospital 
administrators subsequently limited visitation to just her 
parents, daughter and grandmother.  Her family continues to 
visit her and report that despite severe beatings and 
repeated attempts to force her renounce her faith, she has 
refused.  Her family hopes that upon completion of her 
medical treatment she will be freed from detention. 
 
¶3. (C) Helen Berhane was arrested in May 2004 shortly after 
she released an album of Christian music.  She is a member of 
the Rema Church, one of the unregistered churches in Eritrea. 
 The GSE has detained her at Mai Serwa, a prison just outside 
of Asmara, and her family has not seen her in nearly two 
years. 
 
¶4. (C) Comment: Post will continue to follow the situation 
closely.  Through friends of the family, post has 
communicated our concern for Ms. Berhane,s welfare and our 
continued criticism of the GSE,s restrictions on religious 
freedom.  The family has in response expressed its 
appreciation for our concern.  We are actively seeking a 
meeting with Ms. Berhane,s parents and will explore with 
them the options for Embassy staff to visit Ms. Berhane. 
Although we would welcome the chance to interview her and 
 
publicly highlight our support for her and others detained on 
religious grounds we recognize that it is highly unlikely the 
GSE will allow us to visit her.  Nor, given the GSE,s 
on-going persecution of members of the unregistered religious 
groups, do we share her family,s hope that she will be 
released upon her recovery.  Nonetheless, we are sensitive to 
family concerns and will coordinate carefully with the family 
on any efforts to visit Ms. Berhane.  The worry is that 
public engagement by the USG will cause the GSE to respond 
even more harshly towards Ms. Berhane and given the GSE,s 
track record this concern has some merit.  End Comment. 
DELISI