Eritrean Communities Face Targeted Attacks in Europe and Western Cities, Demonstration of Bias and Discrimination

Amanuel Biedemariam

Eritrean communities in Europe, the US, and other Western cities face a relentless onslaught sponsored by Western nations. This comprehensive campaign aims to destabilize Eritrea by employing warfare, sanctions, embargoes, and social and economic disruptions, resulting in significant hardships for the people.

The recent attack on an innocent Eritrean community festival in Stockholm, Sweden, is another example of the years of targeted assaults against the peaceful and law-abiding Eritrean community. Hundreds of individuals, falsely claiming to be Eritreans but belonging to the defeated Tigray People's Liberation Front from the Tigray region of Ethiopia, have infiltrated Europe under the guise of Eritreans. These individuals were deceitfully granted asylum as Eritreans to reduce the Eritrean population and spread misinformation.

Armed with destructive intent, these terrorist gangs unleashed chaos at the festival grounds, attacking an elderly man and showing no regard for innocent lives. Cars were set on fire, tents were burnt down, and even children and mothers were threatened by these blatant acts of terrorism.

These extremists, driven by their hateful agenda, exploit the pretext of protesting against the Eritrean government to rationalize their violent actions toward the Eritrean-Swedish community. Instead of choosing an appropriate venue for their grievances, they disrupt a public festival where families and children gather. This disturbing trend seems to be fueled by hate speech and the influence of Western agitators seeking to bring about regime change in Eritrea, encouraging violence against innocent Eritreans. Individuals like Martin Plaut and Miriam Van Reisen are involved in promoting these actions as Western agents.

It is concerning that European authorities seem to turn a blind eye to this threat to law and order until a tragedy occurs. The police's inaction allowed this crime to unfold, putting the safety of women, children, and the elderly at risk. The tents destroyed belonged to private businesses owned by law-abiding Eritrean Swedes who pay taxes and contribute to society.

Shockingly, some members of the police were seen taking selfies with these terrorists who had planned to burn down the cultural festival camp.

Sweden is home to tens of thousands of people with Eritrean roots. The festival devoted to the cultural heritage of Eritrea is an annual event that has been held since the 1990s.

However, this is a pattern. The Eritrean Festival UK 2023 cancellation by Harrow Council in Early July was biased against Eritreans and Africans. It was a denial of their human rights and unjust vilification.

The "Eritrea Festival 2023" in Giessen was banned by the city authorities just a few days before it was supposed to happen. The sudden prohibition caused significant negative impacts on the people organizing and participating in the event, both financially and socially. Eritreans refused to accept the ban and chose to challenge it through legal means. Luckily, their efforts paid off, and the ban was lifted. Consequently, the city authorities had to take the necessary precautions to ensure adequate security and prevent disruptive individuals residing in different European countries from causing chaos at the festival, which could endanger the safety of attendees.

Despite the court's ruling in favor of lifting the ban and allowing the festival to proceed, disturbing incidents occurred on Saturday, July 8, as reported by German police. The situation turned volatile, and around 1,000 officers, a water cannon, and helicopters were deployed to regain control. Tragically, 22 officers were injured in the process. The disturbances were caused by individuals associated with the TPLF and the Green Party, who resorted to throwing bottles and smoke bombs in an ill-fated attempt to dismantle barricades around the festival venue.

Minority groups in Europe face a myriad of challenges and discrimination. They encounter housing discrimination and find doors closed due to ethnicity or background. Education disparities, hate crimes, and violence rooted in prejudice and ignorance are common. Even within the institutions meant to uphold justice, healthcare, and public services, institutional racism looms large, leading to unequal treatment and limited access to essential resources.

Many minority groups are excluded from society, isolated by social barriers that leave them on the fringes. Language differences further complicate their path, hindering access to vital services and opportunities. They yearn for a voice in politics, as political underrepresentation makes it challenging for their concerns to be heard and addressed. Unfortunately, the shadows of racial profiling follow them, causing them to be unfairly targeted and scrutinized based solely on their appearance or ethnicity. These challenges paint a bleak picture for minority communities in Europe.

Eritreans are united, resilient, wise, organized, resourceful, and successful. They are self-reliant and dedicated to supporting their country and families in Eritrea. However, that has been perceived as a threat by the Western governments, especially Europe and the UK. Hence targeted the Eritrean diaspora to weaken their resolve and discourage them from supporting their government and families.

Their intention is to suppress all Nationalist activities and smear the reputation of Eritreans worldwide. Despite being peaceful and law-abiding people with a proud history of brilliance and triumph, the Western media collaborates in presenting TPLF terrorist attacks against Eritreans as mere demonstrations. Even when these acts involve the intentional destruction of festival tents, playgrounds, and vehicles and cause harm to police officers during peaceful cultural festivals, the true nature of these attacks is distorted and misrepresented.

A prime example of this deception was when the Washington Post characterized the violent incident against Sweden's Eritrea community cultural festival as a mere "turbulent turn" caused by "anti-Eritrean government protesters."

The situation involved the destruction of booths, outdoor shelters, and vehicles by the terrorist group leaving a trail of chaos and smoke billowing into the sky. Since when is destroying innocent people's cars and property a demonstration against a government? Moreover, the government of Eritrea is not in Sweden. These are innocent Eritreans who have been holding these Festivals for 25 years. Such mischaracterizations only serve to further the misrepresentation of Eritrea and its people in the eyes of the world.

The political and media misrepresentation has been ongoing for years, leading to dishonest narratives promoted by Western media and political parties and governments in the West. One concerning consequence is the creation of media stereotypes that negatively portray Eritreans, is that it is perpetuating bias and prejudice. Such stereotypes can reinforce discrimination and racism. They want Eritreans to experience social exclusion.

It seems like Eritreans are facing unnecessary hurdles. For instance, Biniam Girmay, a top professional cyclist from Eritrea and a favorite for the world championships road race in Glasgow on Sunday, was denied a UK visa by The Home Office, which is a ministerial department of the UK Government responsible for immigration, security, and law enforcement. This decision was made despite knowing that Eritreans would likely perform well and have a significant presence at the event.

Several talented Eritrean and African cyclists, including Biniam Girmay, Natnael Tesfatsion, Merhawi Kudus, and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, were denied visas to the UK for the cycling competitions in Glasgow. These athletes have significantly impacted European cycling competitions such as the Giro D Italia, Tour De France, and The Eritrean. Unfortunately, their visa applications were denied because they were considered a flight risk by the British government.

It is important for Europe to address the increasing lawlessness and violence within its borders and avoid creating a divide between Africa and the West. We must take a stand against any extremism that aims to disrupt peace and stability. To build a united and diverse society, the West must embrace inclusivity, equality, and respect for all individuals, regardless of ethnicity or background. Europe can promote harmony and cooperation between Africa and the West by acknowledging and rectifying the discrimination and misrepresentations faced by minority communities.

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Contact: aman@nefasit.com