CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are writing letters and postcards to officials of Ethiopia, asking them to release Zawditu Deressa. On April 3 the Ethiopian government arrested Deressa, a nurse, for providing medical treatment in 1996 for two patients who may have been supporters of an opposition party.
Deressa is scheduled to stand trial Jan. 4 in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia in eastern Africa. If found guilty, her sentence could range from five years in prison to death.
"Zawditu is a nurse by profession and a mother to six children," said her sister, Belletech Deressa, director for development with the ELCA's Division for Global Mission. "She served her country as a nurse in a government hospital for 29 years, and she does not deserve this."
"Medical personnel must treat all sick people, even during war," said Belletech Deressa. "My sister may be killed by the Ethiopian government for providing medical treatment to sick people who needed medical attention."
Belletech Deressa added, "Zawditu is the only family member who decided not to leave the country, even during the Marxist regime. She wanted to serve her people and her country."
Zawditu Deressa has four children of her own; one resides in the United States. She also cares for three children of a sister who is a refugee in England. Zawditu Deressa's husband brings her food each day, since the Ethiopian government does not feed prisoners.
The letter-writing campaign is directed at Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, as well as Ethiopia's Chief Justice Kemal Bedri, Ambassador to the United States Berhane Gebre-Christos and Minister of Justice Werede-Wold Wolde.
The Rev. Russell J.A. Melby, an ELCA pastor and Iowa regional director for Church World Service, Des Moines, Iowa, encouraged Lutherans to "call for the immediate and unconditional release of prisoners of conscience who have not advocated or used violence."
Melby said Zawditu Deressa is one of 65 detainees. "Request assurance that trials will be fair and prompt in accordance with recognized international standards which include the right for defendants to consult in confidentiality with their lawyers," he said.
For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director (773) 380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
