Photo: VOMC
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.
In a separate case, another 17 Christians were also recently arrested and sent to the Mai Serwa prison. At the time of publishing this report, no further information on this case was available. The Mai Serwa prison is the same facility where several members of a Christian musical group, known as the Mahalians, continue to be detained. (For more information about the imprisonment of these young musicians, see this report.)
Dr. Berhane Asmelash from Release Eritrea believes that the recently occurring large-scale arrests of believers – and particularly Christian young people – reflect the Eritrean government's "desperate attempt to control the growth of the evangelical population in the country." Based on exponential increases in incidents of Christian persecution over the past 20 years, Dr. Berhane is concerned about the possibility that higher levels of opposition may take place in the coming year – including more arrests and harsher treatment towards believers. For additional reports addressing the imprisonment of Christians in Eritrea, and/or to view video interviews with Dr. Berhane, go to our country profile.
- Please pray for the strength and endurance of these recently arrested Christians.
- May all of our Christian brothers and sisters who are presently being detained in prisons throughout Eritrea receive peace, comfort, courage and hope from the reassuring presence of the Holy Spirit.
- In spite of ongoing opposition from the government, pray for the continued growth of God's church in this nation, resulting in multitudes accepting Jesus as their personal Saviour and Lord.
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