Despite a formal statement made by the Eritrean government on May 1 that "no groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion," security police arrested two full-time evangelists and another 54 members of the Rema Church during the evening of May 7 in Asmara for allegedly conducting "illegal prayer meetings" in two homes of their members. As of yesterday, Compass Direct reported that the jailed Christians, 21 women and 35 men, remained under detention at the No. 7 Police Station in the capital's Kahawta district. Compass sources said the Christians were undergoing "severe punishment" at the hands of police authorities.
More than 300 Protestant Christians have been arrested, beaten and sentenced with death in the last three months for holding religious meetings without government permission. A year ago, the Eritrean government revoked official status for all religious groups in the country except the four "recognized" religions: Orthodox Christian, Muslim, Roman Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran.
Pray for those currently being held. Pray that they will be released. Pray that they would know God's comforting presence in the midst of their suffering and that they would know how to give an answer for the hope that they have in Christ.
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