New Wave of Arrests Sweep Eritrea

Continuing their campaign against evangelical Christians, Eritrean authorities have detained seventeen more believers in the past ten days.

On Sunday evening, March 13, sixteen believers had gathered together in a home in the town of Adi-Kibe and were watching a Christian video.  The next day, two older women in the group were released after paying fines of 150 nakfa ($13.00 CDN).  The others remain in custody.

Cinema Roma - Asmara, Eritrea

In a further disturbing development, a senior pastor of the Full Gospel Church in Asmara disappeared from the streets of Asmara at mid-morning on March 18, presumably taken into custody by Eritrean authorities.  His family has received no information on his whereabouts or charges he may be facing.  Kidane Weldou has been a church leader in Eritrea for many years.  He is in his mid-50's and has a wife and four daughters.  According to the advocacy group Release Eritrea, it appears that Pastor Kidane was stopped and taken into custody.  His vehicle was found abandoned near the Cinema Roma in downtown Asmara.

Two other pastors from this church have been held without charges for more than ten months.  An Eritrean contact for VOM asks us to pray: "Let us continue to pray for him and also for his wife and children, and the other saints who are walking under the shadow of the Cross in Eritrea."  According to VOM sources, Weldou expected to be arrested for his faith. "In Eritrea, Paul's words that those who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted are literally coming true," said Glenn Penner, Communications Director for The Voice of the Martyrs. "The Eritrean government seems to be determined to wipe out evangelical movements in the county.  Recently the Eritrean ambassador to the U.S. referred to evangelicals as being 'terrorists' and equivalent to al-Qaeda.  All that this shows is the depth of their delusion. Pray that God will intervene in a mighty way in Eritrea."

The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada has been actively involved in advocacy on behalf of Eritrean believers suffering for their faith.  Two video news reports on Eritrea are available on our multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/. Also log on to the Audio section of PersecutionTV to listen to an interview with Glenn Penner on the situation in Eritrea.

Continue to pray for the many believers suffering for their faith in Eritrea.  At least 230 Christians have been arrested since the beginning of 2005.  Pray for Pastor Kidane and the others recently detained.  Pray for their release as well as their continued ministry in their detention.

For more information on the severe persecution endured by Christians in Eritrea, click here.