Eritreans Express Shock, Concern After Lynching of Migrant in Be’er Sheva
Eritrean asylum seekers were stunned by reports of Sunday’s lynching of Habtom Zarhum in Be’er Sheva. Videos showing a furious mob kicking and beating the wounded man following a terror attack quickly spread among the
Eritrean asylum seekers were stunned by reports of Sunday’s lynching of Habtom Zarhum in Be’er Sheva. Videos showing a furious mob kicking and beating the wounded man following a terror attack quickly spread among the community.
“The community is in shock,” said Berhana, a 30-year-old Eritrean and one of the Eritreans’ leaders in Jerusalem. “The biggest shock is the civilians’ onslaught, not the security guard shooting him. You can understand police shooting him under pressure. You investigate that. But people attacked him rather than taking him to hospital. Community members feel he was attacked because he is a refugee.”
Berhana said the community is hoping for a very thorough investigation.
“The future really frightens me,” he admitted. “I fear more people will be hurt because of hatred. People are very depressed by what happened. We’re trying to calm people down. I’m afraid they’ll become anti-Israel.”
Meanwhile, Eritrea’s ambassador to Israel asked the Foreign Ministry for all information regarding the lynching. Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said that the head of the ministry’s Africa branch, Yoram Elron, told the Eritrean ambassador that a police investigation has been launched and that the ambassador will be briefed on its progress as soon as possible. The ambassador is scheduled to meet again on Tuesday with Foreign Ministry representatives as well as police officials, who will provide him with more information on the incident.
Zarhum had been living in Israel for nearly four years. A friend said he fled Eritrea after being forced into extended military service in the air force. He supported his remaining family in Eritrea from Israel. He had visited Be’er Sheva to extend his temporary residence visa and was on his way back to Moshav Ein Habesor, where he worked in a garden center.
Hundreds of asylum seekers held an impromptu memorial service for Zarhum at the Holot detention center on Monday. Although they did not know him personally, the inmates gathered at the facility and shared their thoughts.
“They told people what happened on Sunday, and said it was not intentional but a mistake,” another Eritrean, Afwerki, 36, told Haaretz. “But after we saw the video, it’s impossible [to think] that what happened was a mistake.”
He said the security guard may not have known at first, given the pressure. “You don’t know what you’re doing, but after that [Habtom] perhaps still could have lived,” he said. “He didn’t get any treatment in time. That’s what happened.”
Zarhum’s cousin and some friends gathered Monday in south Tel Aviv’s Levinsky Park, where they are planning a large memorial ceremony for him on Tuesday evening. The Eritrean embassy announced Monday that Zarhum’s body would be flown back to Eritrea for burial.
MK Michal Rozin (Meretz) called on Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to recognize Zarhum as a victim of terror. “Despite our being well-versed in terror and suffering,” she said, “we had yet to see a horrifying incident such as this one, in which hatred played into the hands of those who seek to harm us and doubled the hurt.”
haaretz.com
AHMED SALEH October 19, 2015
Come’on ,give me a break if someone try to explain human cruelty otherwise . A black young person who looks an African refugee shot
with bloody wound laying down and helplessly beaten by some thugs
to finish him for death . I wish the government punish them fully
to feel the pain .
For those politically correct commentators , please show a little
sympathy to the victim and his family for God sake .
Berhe Tenesea October 19, 2015
The right wing Israelis were always brutal to Arabs and African refugees. They have forgotten, their own history about how they were treated by Hitler.
These people are suffering from identity crisis and will continue to be cruel to innocent and helpless people, who are looking for a refuge.
The only solution is to dismiss the false belief that middle East is a safe heaven for
refugees.
We have also wait and see how the so called democratic government of Israel reacts to this inhuman crime.
Canada October 20, 2015
Eritrean refugees need to express their outrage. The Israeli media and human rights group are talking of this very sad incident and death of a young Eritrean refugee in a state of chaos.
There are still many hundreds of Eritreans dying in Arab jails such as Libya, Egypt and Sudan plus thousands who suffered in the hand of the Arab Bedounes and Rashaidas; However, I have always wondered of the silence of the Arab media to the death, rape, beheading and organ harvest in Arab jails and in Arab states.
When will the Arab media speak up to crimes against many Eritreans and black Africans among them.
When will Eritreans express their outrage in front of the Arab embassies for the hundreds of Eritreans murdered, tortured and raped and who are being forcibly deported from Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Egypt to Eritrea.
As far as , I know Eritreans are not coward people.
k.tewolde October 19, 2015
What do you see in the above picture, young Eritrean men. there is a higher calling , telling us ,you have left behind unfinished task , the task that tucked your predecessors six feet under, their souls is howling through the valleys, over the hills, across the vast arid planes telling us to come back and redeem their vision and put it to rest.As long as we don’t answer to this call,where ever we are , where ever we live, it is going to haunt us in every way possible , and this grim images will not abate.
Tes October 20, 2015
First and foremost I would like to express my heartfelt condolence to the family and friend of Zerhun at this difficult time. It really broke my heart to head this dreaded news. Rest in peace KUBUR Hawi.
The only solution for our continuous tragedy is to get rid off PFDJ in its enteritis from its root without any trace. There would be no but or if. PFDJ is the sole responsible for the dymise of our youth all over the world. It is sad to see the precedence of Embassy of the monster as concerned looking to get the truth. The crocodile tears of PFDJ. It issue a press release to show humanity but what it missed is that it is the cause of the tragedy. The reason PFDJ want to involve is that to claim compensation from the Israel government. PFDJ has no shame when it come to money. Two times 400 Eritreans were drawn in sea but PFDJ fail to lower the very flag of the nation or acknowledge they are Eritreans. The entire world engulfed with grief of loss of life but not PFDJ.
Aman October 20, 2015
If you see the people on the picture 95% are folding their arms. It says it all. We are people who have lost our spirit of resistance and fight. I am not saying fight with the hosting nationals but our own prime enemy Isyas and his puppets. There is no place like home our poor parents are waiting in the cold.
Hagherawi October 20, 2015
Freedom comes at a great price. If you are not ready to pay that price you will live like slaves. If you lost dignity at home because you failed to stand for you rights, don’t expect to be respected elsewhere.
k.tewolde October 20, 2015
Hagherawi, the truth is not palatable, but it is the truth. As long as we like to masticate on hgdef’s and cohorts sweet little lies the misery continues.
Hagherawi October 20, 2015
Brother Tewelde,
Deep down in their psyche many ordinary Eritreans still think Higdef is their government. They hate Iseyas but not strong enough to the extent of targeting him. As long as they hesitate to recognize the truth that Hidgef is actually their only enemy, they will not fight for change, and will continue to suffer for year to come.
k.tewolde October 20, 2015
Yep, brother H. There are till those in the opposition camp who address HGDEF as “MENGSTNA”. It is a unique nation that is bleeding profusely, but the assailant has yet to be identified on purpose or out of sheer ignorance.
Genet-orginal October 21, 2015
K.tewolde
If there are people in a “opposition camp” who address HGDEF as Mengstna, that is your clue that they are not real opposition.
Sienet October 20, 2015
Eritrawian meguhaiti fitret. Fight back against the black diablos devil Esayas before you fight back the white devils of Israel. You only live and die once so make your life worthwhile living and your death worthwhile going.
Canada October 21, 2015
Does it mean that a death of an Eritrean gets more respect in Israel than inside Eritrea or than in the hand of the savage Islamic State – ISIS, or in Libyan, Saudi Arabian or Sudanese and many Arab jails?
This is how the Abeed or Akhdam regime of Issaias Afewerki and its TB stations described this accidental death. The Arab media and many Abeed websites are expressing their “outrage” too but not about the Eritreans still languishing in Arab jails, or those who were raped or murdered or stolen their body organs or sold to Arab sex slavery
Hermon Beraki October 22, 2015
Well said Canada and Sienet. I almost agree with most of your comments but my only worry and deep concern is how long more suffering and humiliation for the poor Eritrean people and the nation?
Genet-orginal October 21, 2015
I am so upset about the lose of this young man’s life and all the brothers and sisters dying and suffering all over the world. Our people have been pushed out of their country and homes and exposed to unimaginable ill treatment. The blood of our brother is no doubt on the dictator’s hand. the dictator from tigray/Ethiopia is the reason our people are in the current harm’s way. It is not going to help our people being mad at other people or countries. How we can honor this man’s life and other brothers and sisters who had lost their lives, at the hands of cruel and savage monsters is to fight and stand up for our right. Get rid of the parasites in the heart of our country.
Cont.
Genet-orginal October 21, 2015
Cont..
We don’t have to take arms against the parasites in our country. No needs for that. The dictator from tigray/Ethiopia is in our country destroying and emptying our people from their own lands. This parasite is not a super bug. He is just a parasite, which he is thriving, because we the Eritrean people allowed him to kill us and destroy our land. let us deny this parasite to live at our expense. Let us deny him the air he breaths and the attention he craves. It is not that hard and it is not harder than fighting for our independence. Let not this young man die in vain. Let us organize our people everywhere and fight back. Let us rally our people every city and towns. God bless this young man’s soul. RIP. Condolences to his immediate family and the rest Eritrean people.
Death to the parasites in our country.
We shall overcome!
Genet-O