Source: www.csw.org.uk
Date: October 12, 2024
We are disturbed to learn that Helen Berhane has been insulted and threatened by Canada-based YouTuber, Selemun Syum.
Helen said that Mr Syum has been harassing her for three years. However, he recently broadcast a video encouraging viewers in the Eritrean diaspora to ‘deal with her’, so please pray for her safety.
Many of you will know that Helen is a gospel singer, bible teacher, a determined human rights advocate, CSW board member and former prisoner of conscience.
She spent 32 months imprisoned in shipping containers before being released in 2006, having been beaten almost to death. Miraculously, she managed to escape Eritrea while still unable to walk properly.
False claims
Among other things, Mr Syum claimed Helen had lied about her imprisonment and torture in order to push for sanctions on Eritrea. This is completely false. As some of you may remember, CSW worked on Helen’s case from her imprisonment in 2004, until she was granted asylum in Denmark in 2007. Her ordeal in Eritrea has been confirmed by former prisoners, and documented by several other organisations.
Mr Syum also claimed that Helen had been paid to ‘demonise’ Eritrea.
Ominously, he stated that ‘people like this one have been acting freely for too long. […] We need to deal with her and others like her.’
According to our sources, Mr Syum and his family were granted asylum in Canada on the grounds of having fled persecution. However, he has used his YouTube channel to support the Eritrean regime and threaten its opponents since November 2020, when Eritrea joined Ethiopian forces in attacking the Tigray region.
Helen says the harassment began after she spoke against the use of rape as a weapon of war during the Tigray crisis.
Please pray:
- For protection for Helen Berhane; that all efforts to harm her would come to nothing.
- For the safety of others like her, who bravely speak out against the Eritrean regime.
- That the Canadian authorities will urgently investigate Mr Syum’s actions and ensure that he stops harassing Helen and other Eritrean justice seekers.
- That YouTube will shut down Mr Syum’s channel, putting an end to his inflammatory broadcasts.
- For comfort, provision and deliverance for those who are still suffering in Eritrea and Tigray.