He Following Reports a visit with our Bro. Naizghi Tewelde, who fled Eritrea because of religious persecution. After a harrowing flight across the desert to Libya, where he was re-baptized, Naizghi is now a refugee in Italy awaiting disposition of his case with the help of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR). Throughout his experience, he has been steadily preaching the gospel in every place where he has been.
The options faced
We were privileged this past weekend to spend time with our Bro. Naizghi Tewelde. He is in good health, both spiritually and physically. We shared the daily readings in the hotel lobby and were allowed to take him to our room for the breaking of bread.
He seems confident his case will be favorably considered by the Italian government. His interview is on June 23, in Rome, with a UNHCR representative present. He will probably not know the outcome, though, for another month. He will then have to travel to Sicily to hear the verdict!
Naizghi explained that there are three possible outcomes:
- This means unlimited stay in Italy and a UN passport, carrying refugee status.
- This means he can stay one year in Italy, but is free to travel in the European Economic Community, or to another country, e.g. U.S.A., if he gets a visa. He is free to work but will receive no help from the government after one month. Most applicants get ‘humanity’ status given them.
- This means no papers and 15 days to leave the country.
He has a lawyer to present his case (the CBM and others are helping). We will be e-mailing a representative of the UNHCR at his request with a resume of Naizghi’s history.
A light in the darkness
The really striking part of our trip was when Naizghi took us to see his ‘house’. He had earlier spoken of sleeping at the station, by which we assumed he meant camping out at the Termini railway terminal. The reality is that he, with 400 other illegal immigrants/refugees, is existing in an old, derelict station building, with proportions almost those of Noah’s ark, a brick edifice with no windows and surrounded by wasteland. There are no facilities other than three chemical toilets, two washbasins with cold water and two small generators outside to provide light in the central hall. On each of the three floors, the sides have been boarded off to create rooms (no light, no window) with just a lockable door. Inside there is only room for beds. Naizghi has bought his ‘room’ from the government for 300 euros, so he can provide accommodation for other homeless people for a small rent. He has added a ‘window’ by chipping away the brickwork, so there is a hole in the wall.
This situation, so many homeless immigrants all together, suits the government as they can use it as an interview link and the interview dates are posted up on the notice-board. However, now that journalists have found out what’s going on, it’s proving embarrassing to them and this has speeded up the interview process, which previously could take up to two years.
Naizghi does want to get out, of course, but he is literally a light in a dark world, reflecting Christ’s love to all around, helping people with their problems and sharing any bounty he has. He is obviously well respected and we felt quite safe with him in a situation which otherwise could have been rather scary!
Here is a brother, we feel, who like Moses of old, has chosen to refuse a better standard of living in order to suffer affliction with his people (many are Eritreans or Ethiopians).
We felt humbled and ashamed of our petty complaints when things don’t always go our way.
We thank our Father in heaven for a moving weekend and keeping our brother steadfast in faith.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One