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Eritrean gov't detains Muslims for opposing interference in religion

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Eritrean gov't detains Muslims for opposing interference in religion
http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2007/Feb/16Feb07/24721.htm18/02/2007 13:31:56
(c) Walta Information Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 
Addis Ababa, February 16, 2007 (WIC) - Eritrean Muslims who expressed growing resistance against 
the government’s appointment of their Muftih have been arrested and jailed, Compass Direct News 
said yesterday. 
Eritrean gov't detains Muslims for opposing interference in religion 
In reaction to open protests in the town of Keren, 55 Muslims were arrested and jailed. 
According to local Muslims, the official pretext was that the arrested individuals had been detained on 
charges of either dodging their obligatory military service or helping their children flee the country to 
avoid military duty. 
Since then, Keren sources have confirmed that at least 35 more Muslims have disappeared in the city 
and are presumed to be under arrest. 
For more than a year, 69 Muslims have been incarcerated in ''Wongel Mermera'' for opposing the 
government-appointed Muftih. 
They include Taha Mohammed Noor, a prominent national figure arrested in November 2005 for 
protesting government interference in the religious affairs of Eritrea’s Muslim community, constituting 
nearly half the national population, Compass Direct stated.