Burial Refused for Deceased Pastor

Several headstones on graves

Pastor Tesfay Seyoum was the founding leader of the Eritrean Meserete Kristos Church. Because of his Christian faith and involvement in a non-approved religious group, Pastor Tesfay spent ten years in prison.

While imprisoned, he developed a serious brain tumour. Members of his church, along with his family, tried to arrange for the detained Christian leader to receive medical care, but their requests were denied. Eventually, prison officials sent him for treatment at a hospital in Asmara, where he died (only five days later) on April 9th.

Cultural norms in Eritrea call for burials to occur as soon as possible and to take place within the deceased person's home area. Yet, as Pastor Tesfay's family members mourned the loss of their loved one, they were forbidden from burying his body in either of the local cemeteries located within their hometown because of his evangelical faith.

The Christian leader's body was initially taken home but then had to be returned to the hospital morgue for keeping until the situation was resolved. Finally, the body of Pastor Tesfay was laid to rest at the St. Teklehaymanot Cemetery in a suburb north of Asmara on April 22nd – 13 days after his death. Pastor Tesfay, who was in his 60s, leaves behind a grieving wife and their only child. Additional information about the ongoing oppression of Christians in Eritrea, as well as related video podcasts/documentaries, are available at our country report.

During this time of mourning, please lift up the family members and friends of Pastor Tesfay before God's throne of grace. Pray that the Lord's abiding presence will be tangibly experienced by each one; and that His perfect peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard their hearts and minds – giving them strength to carry on.... Pray that the Gospel message will continue to spread throughout Eritrea, and that God's people will remain faithful and strong despite the government's intense opposition.

  • 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.