Integrity Keepers in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, opposition by the State became severe. The authorities handed down death sentences to two Witnesses, but the brothers were not executed. Witnesses have been pressured to violate their consciences, their persecutors even pressing guns to their temples.

Economic pressures brought an almost literal fulfillment of the Revelation prophecy that states that “nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name.” (Rev. 13:17) Bibles became rare. The State exercised increasing control over people’s lives. Visas were required for travel in the interior. Men, women, and children were organized into party organizations.

In March 1978, Wubie Ayele was beaten to death for his adherence to Scriptural principles. During the following months, Ayele Zeyelew, a pioneer and elder, and Hailu Yemiru, a publisher, were killed, and their bodies were left lying on a street of Addis Ababa for a whole day, exposed for all to see.

Pressures mounted. Radio broadcasts, newspapers, and police attacked the Witnesses. At times, over a hundred of the brothers were in prison. Some were released, including those who had spent two and a half years in prison under torture. A number had even been auxiliary pioneers in prison!

Then a vicious plot was hatched​—eradicate Jehovah’s Witnesses. When some Witnesses learned of this, fear of man overcame them. In addition, there were economic hardships; meat and cereals became scarce, along with automobile tires, gasoline, and other essentials.

Over a hundred Witnesses stood faithful, even after losing their jobs​—a real test of faith for men who had large families to feed. But how heartwarming to see Witnesses with jobs help shoulder the economic load for those needy ones, a loving expression in imitation of the early Christians! (Acts 4:32) In all these horrific situations, the Witnesses needed much spiritual guidance and encouragement, and this was given under Jehovah’s direction.

Ever Courageous

Arrests and trials persisted like a festering boil. One special pioneer has been arrested 15 times since 1972. Children as young as 14 years were imprisoned, some spending over 4 years in confinement. They did not compromise! Then came conscriptions for the war effort. Now young women were included. Many Witnesses used their time in confinement to serve as auxiliary pioneers, helping other prisoners to learn Bible truth. One sister was allowed to leave prison briefly to give birth, after which she had to return to her cell.

A courageous brother on a journey into the countryside by car suddenly realized that he had forgotten to hide his package of Bible literature. There it lay under the car’s dashboard, easily seen. He prayed for a fitting hiding place, but there seemed to be nowhere to stash this bulky material. He had to leave it where it was, trusting in Jehovah. Imagine his amazement when at the nine road checks, some of which included a thorough search of the car, not once did an official suspect this package!

In December 1982, six Witnesses were arrested because of their neutral Christian stand. They too were men of courage and helped many fellow prisoners to gain hold of the Kingdom hope. After three years, they were removed from prison, never to be seen again. All were executed.

In Dese, in the north-central part of the country, Demas Amde, a schoolteacher and father of five, spent more than five torture-filled years in prison: First, hard labor; then six months in solitary confinement chained in a bent position, followed by sickness with no medical attention; next, nakedness for two months, infected with lice; thereafter transfer to a cell where other prisoners lay dying of typhoid. Finally, after his health was wrecked and his body was weakened by cancer, he was released from prison to die. He died, February 4, 1991, faithful to the end and with the firm hope of a resurrection.​—Compare Hebrews 11:37-40.

Other Witnesses were spared. One brother on a trip to the countryside was arrested as a suspected member of a guerrilla movement. He could not keep silent and though at great risk, he boldly declared that he was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Nobody believed him, and he was thrown into a cell with other prisoners.

How did he spend the night? Instead of lamenting over his wretched lot, he seized the opportunity to speak the good news to the others. In the morning what a surprise when fellow prisoners were taken from the cell and interviewed by officials. “What kind of man is the one we put into your cell last night?” asked the officials.

“Oh, you mean that one who preached most of the night, keeping us from sleep?” they answered. The officials could easily recognize that this man was indeed one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. His public declaration of faith opened the jail doors; he was released!

In the south of the country, an interested man endured imprisonment faithfully for over four years. For the first year, his legs were bound with chains; he spent six months in solitary confinement. When his personal belongings were returned to his relatives, they were convinced that he had been executed. He subsisted on low food rations and then, in this weakened state, was sentenced to death. This sentence, however, was reversed by higher officials.

At other times prostitutes were put into his cell to tempt him. After three years, he was encouraged when he was able to share his faith with another interested man, who was imprisoned with him. Yet, regarding his release, it looked hopeless. One day, completely by surprise, he was told that he was free! Now, at last, he had an opportunity to symbolize his dedication to Jehovah by baptism!

Eight Times Sentenced to Death!

In Debre Zeit, a town near the center of Ethiopia, a pioneer, Worku Abebe, was arrested because of his neutral stand. The sentence​—execution that very night. However, before the sentence was carried out, 20 other brothers and sisters were arrested in a nearby town. The authorities believed that these 20 would compromise when they saw Brother Worku killed. (The officials assumed that he was the “leader.”) So the officials in this nearby town wanted Brother Worku handed over to them for execution.

The prison transfer allowed Brother Worku to explain his belief before 300 persons. Benefiting from the local custom that someone not be interrupted when speaking, Brother Worku took four hours to tell his story, recounting the history of Jehovah’s Witnesses from Abel up to the present. When he concluded, an official said: “This man should be separated from the rest. He has almost convinced me!”

One evening, jailers marched him and the other Witness prisoners to a riverside for execution. Aiming their guns at the Witnesses, they asked: “Will you renounce your faith or not?” The Witnesses answered as one, in a resolute voice, that they would never deny Jehovah. They were not executed; instead, severe beatings started that lasted several hours. “The suffering was so severe we begged them to kill us instead, but they would not stop,” the brothers said.

Next, Brother Worku was singled out for execution. One shot rang out. For a moment he was perplexed. He did not fall down and was not hurt. Then it dawned on him​—the bullet did not hit him. The persecutors lost no time. They viciously struck him with the butt of a gun. He fell unconscious and was returned to his cell.

Back at the jail, the guards received instructions to make sure that all the Witnesses would compromise that night. Soon sharp cracks of gunfire reverberated through the cells. The Witnesses were told: “Did you hear those shootings? Well, your brothers have been killed. You will see their dead bodies on the streets tomorrow. And if you do not compromise, you will be killed as well.”

The Witnesses answered: “From the cup from which our brothers drank, we are willing to drink.”

During the night, guards began to beat Brother Worku and the other Witnesses with sticks. One particularly violent guard tied Brother Worku’s arms so tight that the skin on his fingers burst open and blood began to flow. Brother Worku hid his mutilated fingers from the other brothers so as not to discourage them. When temporary relief came, the Witnesses prayed before falling asleep. But at one o’clock in the morning, angry persecutors rushed in and beat them again and again until four o’clock. Afterward the Witnesses prayed once more, thanking Jehovah for his strength and asking him to continue sustaining them.

The morning brought other bullies to the cell. These began kicking the Witnesses. In the afternoon Brother Worku was again singled out, and a total of 20 persons hit him and trampled on him. Still he did not give up. Again it was decided that he should be killed. At 10:00 p.m., 20 more guards arrived and beat him until about 2:00 a.m. One tormentor was so furious that he grabbed another Witness from behind and viciously bit him, leaving the Witness permanently scarred. For four days the Witnesses were confined in a dark room without any food or drink and were repeatedly beaten. All had fractures of various bones, including ribs and skulls. Physically they grew very weak.

When a high official visited the jail, he felt pity when he saw their condition and ordered that they be given some sustenance. However, a guard, the violent one, was furious to see the Witnesses provided with food and drink. He concocted a plot and accused them of trying to escape. His ploy was believed, so another execution was scheduled. The brothers prayed intensely to be delivered, especially in view of the false, shameful accusations. An even higher official prevented the execution, but the brothers suffered beatings with sticks the whole night.

After a few days, another official came, announcing that Brother Worku would be executed and the others released. Surprisingly, not only were these brothers released but Brother Worku was told a few days later that he could go also.

Immediately he seized the opportunity to meet with and encourage other brothers in a private home. He did not realize that he had been followed and reported on. So the next day, he was again arrested and sentenced to death.

Yet another attempt was made to trick him into compromising. He was approached in a friendly manner and kindly invited to shout certain slogans. Brother Worku refused; he only repeated his own Bible slogans in favor of the true God. Now these “friendly” people turned into ugly torturers.

A few days later, his jailers wanted to talk things over with him. The discussion lasted four hours. He was offered an important political office. He refused. Their words to him were: “You will certainly be gunned down to become food for the maggots.”

Finally, some fair-minded officials took an interest in Brother Worku’s case and voted for his release. He counted his ordeals as a joy; he had not given up. (Heb. 12:2) Before his trials began, he had always been serious about regular family study and prayer. No doubt this helped him to endure. He related what one “Nicodemus,” a pastor of Christendom, said concerning the Witnesses in the crucible of persecution compared with those of his religion: “We feared and compromised. We let God down, but you stood firm for him, not fearing even death. Well done.” So, in all, Brother Worku had been sentenced to death eight times, but Jehovah preserved him alive!

A Big Lesson Learned

During those years of fiery trials, the Witnesses in Ethiopia found that the apostle Paul’s words rang true for them: ‘From a weak state they were made powerful.’ (Heb. 11:34) One humble sister, a housemaid, who was learning to read, found herself imprisoned with a group of well-educated Witnesses. While some of the Witness prisoners prayed for release, her prayers centered on strength to remain faithful. One day the persecutors brought in a bowl of boiling oil and threatened to dip the fingers of every prisoner into it. Some Witnesses crumbled under fear, but the humble sister remained firm. And her fingers never were hurt. Subsequently she was released.

This proved to be a big lesson for those who had attached great importance to social status and education. They now saw that what mattered most was faithfulness.

Young Witnesses of Jehovah came under particular pressure in this country. By reason of their neutrality, they were denied many basic necessities of life, such as hospital treatment, school examinations, and employment. Did this make them feel forsaken? No! With full faith that their tribulations are momentary, they advanced in the power that Jehovah imparts to them.​—Phil. 4:13.

[Pictures on page 177]

Faces we expect to see in the resurrection. All were murdered for their loyalty to the good news. From top left: Ayele Zeleyew, Hailu Yemiru, Wubi Ayele, Kaba Ayana, Gebreyohanes Adhanom, Adera Teshome, Wondimu Demera, Kasa Gebremedhin, Eshetu Mindu