A Sad Incident that Needs Our Immediate Attention
An Eritrean youth, Abraham Seyoum is currently in the San Diego jail. He is accused for touching the hair of 10-year-old girls. His action is interpreted as sexual harassment, and he is waiting for a
An Eritrean youth, Abraham Seyoum is currently in the San Diego jail. He is accused for touching the hair of 10-year-old girls. His action is interpreted as sexual harassment, and he is waiting for a trial. He has been in jail for about a year. This is a total misunderstanding due to cultural differences.
Abraham is a 25-year-old youth who is hearing impaired due to a bomb explosion he experienced in his childhood. He fled Eritrea for a better life and after a long and tiring journey, he managed to enter the USA via Mexico in 2011. While he was navigating his way in getting settled in the US and applying for his refugee status, he encountered this unexpected problem just after a month of being relieved of his exhaustive journey.
Abraham was living in a shelter administered by a church. He was playing with 8 and 10 years old girls in the same way adults play in our Eritrean culture. He touched their hair, in the same way we touch to our own or our neighbours’ children. He asked them if they wanted any treats so he could buy for them candy. But he advised them to ask permission from their parents. He had no clue what would happen. A few minutes later the police came and arrested him.
In Eritrea, children are raised not only by their parents, but also by neighbours and the village. It is common to see adults buy candy for children of their neighbours, give them a hug, touch their head and let them sit on their lap, simply to express their genuine affection. It is also common to see adults discipline the neighbours’ children if they see them doing wrong. At the same time, it is the adult’s duty to protect any child from harm in their care. Eritrean society appreciates that every citizen must take responsibility in entertaining and protecting any child.
A person who is raised in such way can find it difficult to adopt the North American ways of doing things. Some immigrants are lucky to get cultural orientation about their host country before they arrive, but others are not. Abrahm Seyoum is such an unfortunate individual. He is suspected of being a child molester for touching the hair of children which is very common in the culture in which he grew up. This happened in the first month of his stay in his new home to be.
As you must understand, this is a very serious issue. If he is convicted, his life will be destroyed completely. To see an innocent person behind bars due to a cultural misunderstanding is truly tragic.
Therefore, we ask that everyone sign his/her name below so as to convince the American Justice System that what Abraham Seyoum did is very common in Eritrean culture and that he did not hold any sexual intentions behind his actions.. He was just trying to be a good man in his neighbourhood, just as he was in the neighbourhood where he was raised
To Sign The Petition Click: Eritrean Human Rights Group
menalewo March 21, 2012
it is very sad to hear such things happen to the new arrived man.
the only way to protect his value and rights is, he should accept misunderstanding of the caltural.
however there is no other option but the only thing we have to do is, the people living in the North America should come and demonstrate infront of the court that this man was innocent and was misunderstanding of caltural thing, so that they can reduce and understand the case at least.
That is the only better thing to do, demonstrate infront of the court.
sara March 25, 2012
no need of demonstration…. get him a medic or support any one who could help get him a medic… he needs this now…not later….
semere March 21, 2012
This is sad. Sometimes in the name of law innocent people become victims. I suggest that we get a good lawyer who can prove him innocent taking into consideration the cultural differences and analyzing carefully the circumstantial evidences. If we all join hands we can help him out. Someone should explain to us all the details. I suggest also that we making a petition and start signing it.
21/03/2012 March 21, 2012
Obviously, this young man went through a difficult time and trauma to get in the US. As an every Eritrean he was brought up according to his home (eritrea) culture. Touching a young girl’s or boys’ hair and hug does not mean a negative thing; but, it is only an expression of care, love and positive encouragement in a brotherly or sisterly way as all good people do to their family members at home. To my understanding, he is newly arrived person and does not yet know the culture of the host Country i.e US. For this fact, the issue of CULTURE should come into play in his case to be released to freedom.
Weldu March 21, 2012
where were you? we need immediate action, especialy the the youth eritrean movement for change…..
sara March 25, 2012
woldu…
it is not late, and no restriction… every one , any one should help…this is a humanitarian issue…no politicking.
call your contacts in Diego and let them, do what is right… get him a medic
then what ever you want and can do… but first… the medic…
21/03/2012 March 21, 2012
He is not aware of the culture abroad in respect to coming into physical contact with people. As a young man what in his mind would be is only his own culture back home. The allegation could be openly carried out as he could not have a clue what consequence could have. In fact, what he could think of is as doing good.To my guess, for this main reason, he could simply be naive and definitely no malicious attempt to do for his pleasure.
Free Dr. Fitzum March 21, 2012
eritrean law society! How about pro bono!
john March 21, 2012
@ Semere:some already starrted the petition. here is the link for it http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/justice1. EVERY ONE NEED TO SIGN THIS PETITION.
It is sad! Many many new immigrants have arrived in US with little orientation to the culture and norms of americans. Thanks to stupidity of PFDJ, many community centers in USA are nothing but fundraising/dance centers. FORGET PFDJ and PIA. WE CAN DO THIS! WE HAVE MANY ERITREAN DOCTORS, LAWYERS, SOCIAL WORKERS ETC..we need to STAND UP AS ONE PEOPLE for CHANGE!!We need POLITICS free communities in all states.A community for eritreans regardless who they are. A community that give services to newcomers such as job training, counseling, cultural orientation etc.
Selamawii March 21, 2012
Hmm he touched the hair of minors girls or boys and it is Eritrean culture?
I am not sure if a petition based on the alleged Eritrean culture can fly anywhere in the court of law.
Please have a lawyer revise your petition before you file it with any US dept or institute.
Ahmed saleh March 21, 2012
It is a very sad story. Eventhough petition might be helpful but fund raising to hire
respected lawyer for his defense is important. We know the system, money talks.
John’s remark not to have politics free community centre left us disabled in our
social issues. Nowadays our connections are through web sites and only the few who
visit them may have informations. To have strong Eritrean communities in diaspora
a united civic organization is a must. Anytime something wrong happen to our fellow,
it makes easier to reach to each other. For meantime let’s join hands on the petition.
sara March 25, 2012
ahmed… get real, this time it is different , no politics here… the call is to all eritreans and any other regardless of his origin… so long he will or can help.if you know any one in the deigo area, let them consider the medical/ health issue in his defense, in fact the best way is to inform those who are following his case to ask the lawyer arrange a medic see him . no petition will work in this, specially with a new immigrant and with the political situation in the local/counties and state authorities.
This is very sad. It is also so great and encouraging to see people to be so concerned with a new and naive young brother. If we keep doing helping each other's problem in this way - a lot can be done. God bless you all. March 21, 2012
I’s very sad. But is is so encouraging and promising to see people helping each other in this way. God bless you deki hagerey.