Funeral Services for Bereket Mengisteab - one of Eritrea's legendary and greatest artists - held at noon today at Asmara's Patriots Cemetery in the presence of President Isaias Afwerki, senior Government and PFDJ officials, Religious leaders, and his family
President Isaias Afwerki laid a Wreath at Asmara's Patriots Cemetery in the morning hours today in tribute & remembrance of #Eritrea's heroic Martyrs.
Ceremony included public procession from Sheda Square to the Cemetery & cultural shows on precious sacrifices paid to achieve national independence as well as to protect and preserve the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
#Eritrea: ሃገረ ኣብ ረዚን ዝኽሪ ሓበን!- Sermons & Prayers in Commemoration of Martyrs Day presided by Religious Leaders of the Tewahdo Orthodox, Catholic, & Lutheran Christian denominations held at St. Michael's Church in Asmara in mid-morning hours today.
Similar ceremony at Asmara Grand Mosque scheduled for later this afternoon.
#Eritrea - Martyrs’ Day: Tribute to the Heroes; by Simon Weldemikael
*"...Martyrs’ Day in Eritrea is a tribute not only to the freedom fighters who fell in battle but also to the countless civilians—babies, women, and the elderly—who were deliberately targeted and killed by successive occupationist regimes. These innocent victims suffered atrocities, massacres, and brutal executions in flagrant breach of all humanitarian laws of war. Their remembrance is woven into the fabric of Eritrean history".
*"...Martyrs’ cemeteries are found all over Eritrea, serving as sacred resting places for the heroes and heroines who sacrificed their lives. These cemeteries are not just burial sites. They are symbols of honor, history, and national memory. Eritreans visit these resting places to light candles, lay flowers, and pay their respects, reinforcing their deep connection to those who gave everything for the safety and independence of the country".
https://t.co/A9J852FcwM
Prayers (ሰላትን ዱዓን) in commemoration of Martyrs Day held at Asmara's Grand Mosque this afternoon.
Presiding over the event, Eritrea's Mufti, Sheikh Salim Ibrahim Al-Mukhtar, underlined that "Martyrs Day remains the momentous event in which we pay tribute, year-in and year-out, to our heroic Martyrs who made history and the assertion of our independence, sovereignty, and human dignity through their precious sacrifices".
Sheikh Salim further stressed: "it incumbent on us to preserve, through our unity, their legacy by protecting every inch of our sovereign territory as well as every drop of our maritime waters".
Eritrean Community Festival in the UK
The Eritrean community festival was held with patriotic zeal on 20 and 21 July in London under the theme “Peace Anchored on Resilience.” The festival was officially opened by Mr. Saleh Abdella, Charge d’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy in the UK and Northern Ireland. The event was attended by numerous nationals from UK cities including London, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry, Birmingham, Wakefield, and Huddersfield.
Highlighting the significance of the festival in consolidating the unity of nationals and nurturing youth that adhere to noble national values, Mr. Saleh noted that the festival was particularly special as it coincided with the joyful event of Biniam Girmay winning the Green Jersey at the Tour de France 2024. He also conveyed congratulants Biniam Girmay and the Eritrean people.
Mr. Tewolde Yohannes, head of Public and Community Affairs, conducted a seminar for festival participants, focusing on the homeland's current situation in terms of regional and global developments. Mr. Tewolde emphasized that the development of friendly relations and cooperation in international relations was the result of the steadfastness and resilience of the Eritrean people and Government, and he called for strengthened participation for better results.
At the event, certificates of recognition were handed out to over 60 outstanding youth students in their educational careers and to those who attended history and political training.
The festival also featured cultural and artistic programs by Eritrean artists residing in the UK.