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Persecution News - Eritrea
Three Christian women released
(May 13, 2009)
Three Christians released
(March 25, 2009)
Imprisoned Christians die
following torture
(January 28, 2009)
New wave of arrests sweeps
across Eritrea
(December 24, 2008)
Imprisoned Christian dies, more
believers arrested
(November 05, 2008)
Five More Evangelicals Arrested
(September 05, 2008)
Christian students imprisoned in
shipping containers
(August 13, 2008)
Imprisoned Christian Woman Dies
(July 23, 2008)
Eritrea Profile
Total Area:
121,320 sq. km
Population:
5,028,475 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnicity:
Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and
Kunama 40%, Afar 4%,
Saho (Red Sea coast
dwellers) 3%, Other 3%
Language:
Afar, Amharic, Arabic,
Tigre and Kunama,
Tigrinya, other Cushitic
languages
Religion:
Muslim, Coptic Christian,
Roman Catholic,
Protestant
Government Type:
Transitional Government
Note: Following a
referendum on
independence in April
1993, a National Assembly
was formed, composed
entirely of the People's
Front for Democracy and
Justice or PFDJ.
Parliamentary elections
had been scheduled to
take place in December
2001, but were postponed
indefinitely. Currently the
sole legal party is the
PFDJ.
Capital:
Asmara (Asmera)
Population Below
Poverty Line:
50% (2004 est.)
Country Reports
More Christians Arrested; Imprisoned Pastors may Face
Treason Charges
May 28, 2008
Police raided a private home and jailed 25 Christians who had gathered in Adi
Kuala on Eritrea's Independence Day on May 24 to pray for their nation,
according to a May 27 report from Compass Direct. Twenty men and five
women meeting in a Christian's home were taken into custody. All are members
of the local Medhane-Alem group, a renewal movement within the Eritrean
Orthodox Church. They are now being held in a police station in the town which
is about 90 km southwest of the capital city of Asmara.
Two separate groups of Christian prisoners held in detention for the past three
months have been reportedly released recently. Ten members of the Church of
the Living God, a breakaway group from the Eritrean Orthodox Church, were set
free after three months' detention in the Mendefera police station. Another 15
members of the Kale-Hiwot Church who had been held in the Keren police
station were also released. All the discharged prisoners were forced to pay
80,000 nakfa ($5,330) per person as bail. When they were set free, authorities
strictly warned them against involvement in any Christian activities in the future.
Some were forced to surrender property deeds as bond, in order to secure the
steep bail demands.
Haile Naizghi, Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel and Tesfatsion Hagos
The Compass report also indicated that the Eritrean government plans to press
formal charges of treason against several pastors jailed for the past four years.
Relatives and church members of the long-jailed pastors are experiencing "great
anxiety" over these unconfirmed reports. Official conviction for treason carries
the death penalty in Eritrea. Three of the most prominent pastors -- Full Gospel
Church leaders Haile Naizghi and Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel, together with
Tesfatsion Hagos of the Rema Evangelical Church -- have been imprisoned
incommunicado for the past four years.
Pray for the release of those in prison for the sake of Christ. Ask God to sustain
by His grace the pastors and their loved ones as they face continued suffering
(1 Peter 5:12).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Eritrea, go to
the Eritrea Country Report .
 
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