At least twenty Christians, including several young children, were arrested and detained when security forces raided a home in the town of Dekemhare, 40 km south of the Eritrean capital of Asmara, on May 27. According to a June 6 report from Release Eritrea, the authorities went to the home expecting to apprehend a group of Christians gathered for prayer. When they did not find such a meeting taking place, they arrested the families living in the home and several other Christians in the neighbourhood, including a well-known Bible teacher and church leader, Pastor Michael Abraha of the Kale-Hiwot Baptist Church. They also confiscated videos of a wedding conducted by Pastor Abraha. There is considerable concern for the Pastor's health as he suffers from diabetes.
Pray for the Lord's grace to abound in Pastor Michael while he suffers for the Name of Christ. Pray also that he will receive appropriate medication for his diabetes. Pray that the members of Pastor Michael's congregation will not give in to fear and despair but be enabled by God to stand firm in their faith. Ask the Lord to continue to bring forth more Christian church leaders in Eritrea to take the place of those who are imprisoned (Luke 21:13-15).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Eritrea, click here.
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.
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.
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.
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