Key Christian Leaders Arrested

 
Shipping containers, such as these,
have frequently been used to hold Christian prisoners,
including Helen Berhane.

On May 26, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on an urgent prayer request in Eritrea. At the time, we were unable to give any details for security reasons. We are now able to give more information for your prayers.

Between May 13 and May 27, four Christians were arrested: a popular singer, the pastor of an evangelical church, and two key evangelical leaders.

On May 13, Helen Berhane, 29, a member of the Rema Evangelical Church in Asmara, was arrested. She had recently released a recording that was popular among the youth. Refusing to sign papers that would require her to recant her faith and stop singing, she is imprisoned in a shipping container at the Mai Serwa military camp.

On the early morning of May 23, two key leaders of the Full Gospel (Mullu Wongel) Church, one of Eritrea's largest Pentecostal denominations, were arrested at their homes in Asmara. Haile Naizgi is currently the chairman of the Full Gospel Church. Married with four children, he was previously an accountant with World Vision. He is being held in Asmara's Police Station #1. Dr. Kuflu Gebremeskel is chairman of the Eritrean Evangelical Alliance and a former mathematics professor at the University of Asmara. He is presently being held in Asmara's Police Station #6. VOM sources have reported that this station is a particularly terrible place with underground dungeons. Neither man is being allowed any visitor access, including family.

On the same day, police attempted to arrest Pastor Tesfatsion Hagos of the Rema Evangelical Church in Asmara, but failed to find him at home. Four days later, he was arrested while visiting the port city of Massawa. Pastor Hagos is married with three children. His whereabouts are unknown.

Pray for strength and boldness in the midst of the imprisonment of these and hundreds of other Christians in Eritrea.

For more information on persecution in Eritrea, including a recent video report by The Voice of the Martyrs, click here.

  • Country Information

    Population
    6,274,796 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Tigrinya (50), Tigre (30), Saho (4), Afar (4) Kunama (4), Bilen (3), other (5)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (47.4), Christianity (48.8), other (3.8)

    Leader
    President Isaias Afworki (1993)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law

    Sources: CIA World Factbook, Operation World

  • Pray for Eritrea

    Ask the Lord to provide imprisoned Eritrean believers a means of escape and a place of safe refuge. Pray for Him to also work deeply in the hearts of the country's governing officials so they will grant His people the freedom to worship Him and glorify His matchless name. Mindful of their own human frailties, may these political leaders realize the need to make Jesus their own personal Saviour and Lord by accepting His gift of eternal salvation.

Eritrea News

  • Christians Imprisoned for 20 Years Without Charge
    Rev G. Gebregiorgis, Kiflu Gebremeskel, Futsum Gebrenegus, Meron Gebreselasie, Tekleab Mengisteab, Haile Nayzgi
    Photos: Christian Solidarity Worldwide / Human
    Rights Concern Eritrea / Release Eritrea

    On May 23rd, 2004, Eritrean authorities arrested two pastors from the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea: Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel and Pastor Haile Nayzgi. The arrests were made in response to a government ban instituted in 2002 against all but four of the country's religious communities. Throughout 2004, arrests continued against pastors of the banned organization, which consisted of between 120 and 150 home church congregations at the time. Pastor Meron Gebreselasie was arrested in June 2004. Then in November of that year, Dr. Futsum Gebrenegus, Dr. Tekleab Mengisteab and Rev. Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis were also detained.

  • Recent Passing of Imprisoned Church Leader
    Reverend Ghirmay Araya
    Reverend Ghirmay Araya
    Photo: Release Eritrea

    Reverend Ghirmay Araya was one of the founders of the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea. Under the country's oppressive regime, the denomination was banned in 2002 and its senior leaders were imprisoned in 2004. Over the decades since, thousands of other Eritreans have been imprisoned for their faith, often enduring torture and inhumane treatment.

  • At Least 30 Arrested at a Birthday Gathering
    A birthday cake with a candle in the shape of the numeral
     

    On January 20th, 30 Christian adults, plus an unknown number of children, were arrested in Eritrea when police raided a party that was held in celebration of an infant's first birthday. The incident took place in the capital city of Asmara at the home of a Christian couple who was hosting a gathering of family and friends to celebrate the birthday of their firstborn child.

  • More Christian Youth Released from Prison
    A microphone is in the foreground and an open laptop is in the background.

    In April 2023, more than 100 talented Christian young people, who are members of a musical group known as the Mahalians, were arrested after recording songs of praise which they had intended to share on YouTube. The government deemed their recording session to be an illegal church gathering. For more details, go to this page.