According to a February 2 report from Compass Direct, military authorities in Eritrea have placed seventy-five recent conscripts in jail for "reading Bibles and praying during their free time." The evangelical Christians were primarily youths serving compulsory military service at the Sawa Military Camp. According to reports from Eritrea, none of those detained had attempted to conduct a Christian meeting. They were only carrying out normal Christian activities during their free time. In contrast, Muslim conscripts are allowed to read the Quran and pray five times each day. According to confirmed reports, the Christians have been placed under "military detention and punishment." It is believed that nearly 1800 Christians are presently being detained in Eritrea because of their faith in Jesus.
Pray that the Lord will continue to embolden these young believers to remain true to Christ. Ask God to move the hearts of the government leaders in Eritrea to acknowledge the religious freedom of all of their citizens. Pray that God will use the VOMC weekly shortwave radio broadcast to Eritrea, "Voice of Light," to minister to those who have little access to Christian fellowship. To listen to this program online, click here.
For more information on the persecution facing Eritrea's Christians, go to click here. To view video reports on Eritrea are available on https://www.vomcanada.com/.
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.
In early December, Eritrean security forces raided a house where 27 secondary school students had gathered together for prayer and worship. The Christian students – most of whom ranged in age from 14 to 16 years old – were taken to a police station and held in custody for a few days before being transferred to the Mai Serwa prison which is located along the outskirts of Asmara.
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.
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.
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.
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