Pastors Endured 7,000 Days in Prison

Pastor Haile Naizgi, Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel
Pastor Haile Naizgi and Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel

In 2002, the government of Eritrea passed legislation that locked down religious freedom in the country, outlawing every religion except Sunni Islam, Eritrean Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism and Lutheranism. Since that time, hundreds of believers have been detained without charge and often held for many years without trial.

Before his arrest, Pastor Haile Naizgi* was the chair of the Full Gospel Church of Eritrea – a network comprised of approximately 150 house church groups. These church groups were forcibly closed by a governmental decree but given an application form for official registration. Although the mandated forms were completed and submitted, the representing church leaders received no further contact from the government – until Pastor Haile's arrest in May 2004. He has remained in prison under deplorable conditions ever since.

Another church leader, Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel, served as the chair of the Eritrean Evangelical Alliance and a member of the executive committee of the Full Gospel Church when he was arrested during an early morning raid on May 23rd, 2004. For more details on the initial arrests of these two church leaders, go to this page.

This past weekend marked a heartbreaking milestone, as these two Christian men passed their 7,000th day in prison. Reflecting on this solemn anniversary, Todd Neddleton from VOM USA stated: "[That equates to] one thousand weeks away from their families. Children that were very young when their fathers were arrested are now college graduates and even parents themselves. How many family milestones have these two Christians missed over the past 7,000 days? As a father and a grandfather, I weep at the thought of all the significant moments they have sacrificed for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom."

Greg Musselman, host of the video podcast, Closer to the Fire, recently interviewed Dr. Berhane Asmelash from Release Eritrea about the difficult situation facing these Christian leaders, as well as the estimated 400 other believers who remain detained in Eritrea without trial or legal representation. To view this informative podcast, and thus learn more about persecution in Eritrea, go to VOMCanada.com/video/ReleaseEritrea1.

Prayerfully uphold Pastor Haile and Dr. Kiflu as they endure this lengthy time of captivity, asking that these faithful believers will receive greatly needed encouragement, strength and hope. Please also pray for God's sustaining grace over the lives their wives, children and grandchildren. May the governing political leaders of countries around the world take a stand against such human rights abuses, petitioning Eritrean governmental officials to allow freedom of conscience and religion, as well as the safe release of all who are presently being arbitrarily detained.

Note: Pastor Haile Naizgi's translated surname has also been spelled "Naizghi" or "Nayzgi" in previously published reports by various news sources. VOMC's contacts have recently confirmed with the pastor's family that the preferred English spelling of their surname is "Naizgi."

  • 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.