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Eritrea

  • New Wave of Arrests Sweep Eritrea

    Continuing their campaign against evangelical Christians, Eritrean authorities have detained seventeen more believers in the past ten days.

    On Sunday evening, March 13, sixteen believers had gathered together in a home in the town of Adi-Kibe and were watching a Christian video.  The next day, two older women in the group were released after paying fines of 150 nakfa ($13.00 CDN).  The others remain in custody.

    Cinema Roma - Asmara, Eritrea
    In a further disturbing development, a senior pastor of the Full Gospel Church in Asmara disappeared from the streets of Asmara at mid-morning on March 18, presumably taken into custody by Eritrean authorities.  His family has received no information on his whereabouts or charges he may be facing.  Kidane Weldou has been a church leader in Eritrea for many years.  He is in his mid-50's and has a wife and four daughters.  According to the advocacy group Release Eritrea, it appears that Pastor Kidane was stopped and taken into custody.  His vehicle was found abandoned near the Cinema Roma in downtown Asmara.

    Two other pastors from this church have been held without charges for more than ten months.  An Eritrean contact for VOM asks us to pray: "Let us continue to pray for him and also for his wife and children, and the other saints who are walking under the shadow of the Cross in Eritrea."  According to VOM sources, Weldou expected to be arrested for his faith. "In Eritrea, Paul's words that those who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted are literally coming true," said Glenn Penner, Communications Director for The Voice of the Martyrs. "The Eritrean government seems to be determined to wipe out evangelical movements in the county.  Recently the Eritrean ambassador to the U.S. referred to evangelicals as being 'terrorists' and equivalent to al-Qaeda.  All that this shows is the depth of their delusion. Pray that God will intervene in a mighty way in Eritrea."

    The Voice of the Martyrs in Canada has been actively involved in advocacy on behalf of Eritrean believers suffering for their faith.  Two video news reports on Eritrea are available on our multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/. Also log on to the Audio section of PersecutionTV to listen to an interview with Glenn Penner on the situation in Eritrea.

    Continue to pray for the many believers suffering for their faith in Eritrea.  At least 230 Christians have been arrested since the beginning of 2005.  Pray for Pastor Kidane and the others recently detained.  Pray for their release as well as their continued ministry in their detention.

    For more information on the severe persecution endured by Christians in Eritrea,click here.
  • Detained Children and University Lecturer Released
    Semere Zaid was a lecturer at the University of Asmara (pictured)
    The February 23 Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on the detention of over one hundred children by Eritrean police after a raid on the Medhanie-Alem Orthodox Church.  According to a March 21 report from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the last of the children detained have recently been released. 

    In a March 18 news release, Compass Direct also confirms that Semere Zaid has been released on bail.  Zaid, a lecturer in agriculture at the University of Asmara, was arrested in early February.  It is reported that Zaid was given warnings to not participate in any evangelical activities in the future.

    The Voice of the Martyrs thanks those who have prayed for the release of these Christians.  Continue to pray for the many Eritrean Christians still held in various prisons and military camps because of their faith in Christ.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Eritrea,click here.
  • Over One Hundred Children Detained By Authorities

    Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is reporting that 131 children between the ages of two and eighteen were rounded up this week by Eritrean police as they were in their Christian classes. According to CSW, the children were attending their classes at the Medhanie-Alem Orthodox Church in the capital Asmara when a truck with the policemen arrived at approximately 9:30am on February 19.   The police reportedly put the children in the truck and took them to the nearby Police Station Number 1 where they registered their names and addresses.  According an eye witness, after the children were put in a hall at the police station, they started to sing in a loud voice: "I am not afraid of persecution, hardships and even death. Nobody can separate me from the Love of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and he gave me new life."

    The policemen ordered the children to stop singing, saying: "You must shut-up, this is a police station", but the children continued to sing despite the threats. When the policemen turned on a television and put the volume up high to drown out the singing, the children protested. The policemen responded by beating them.

    According to the CSW report (dated February 23), the children were kept at the police station from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The younger children, under 15 years old, were then released and told to come back on Monday with their parents. The remaining thirty young people remain in detention and were transferred to Police Stations Number 7 and Number 4.

    Eritrean leader demonstrates how he was tortured by authorities.
    The Medhanie-Alem Orthodox Church has been targeted by a special Task Force after all charismatic churches were ordered to close.  As The Voice of the Martyrs reported last week, the Eritrean government has established a task force specifically to eradicate all "menfesawyan"
    ("spirituals" - a term often used to describe charismatic Christians) from the country by the end of 2005.  Eritrean citizens are being asked to report any "spirituals" they know.

    Pray for those young people who remain in detention. Pray that they would remain faithful to Christ despite whatever they may be enduring for His sake.  Pray for their parents during this difficult time. Pray for the hundreds of evangelical and charismatic Christians that are now in detention in Eritrea.  Pray for their faithful witness and for their speedy release.

    The Voice of the Martyrs, together with 100 Huntley Street, produced a report on the suffering of Christians in Eritrea late last year.  This new video report, together with an earlier one from VOM, is available on our multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.  Registration is required for this website, but is free and gives you access to multimedia resources found nowhere else on the Internet.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Eritrea,click here.
  • Eritrean University Lecturer Arrested
    Semere Zaid was a lecturer at the University of Asmara (pictured)
    Semere Zaid, described as "not only an Eritrean intellectual but also a brother in Christ," was arrested on February 1, 2005 when he turned himself into police.  In his February 7 editorial on Asmarino.com, Habtom Yohannes states that the Eritrean government has established a task force specifically to eradicate all "menfesawyan" ("spirituals" - a term often used to describe charismatic Christians) from the country by the end of 2005.  Eritrean citizens are being asked to report any "spirituals" they know.  When Zaid returned from studying abroad, he was warned of the danger he faced.  However, he wanted to believe the best of his country.  When he discovered that the task force was investigating him, he voluntarily went to the police station along with officials from the University of Asmara .  The university officials were asked to leave and Zaid was arrested without charges.

    In this same editorial, Yoahnnes summarizes a report that he had received that day from Eritrea concerning the plight facing evangelicals in the cities of Asmara, Zagir, Adi Keyih, Dekemhare, Massawa, Assab, Adi Nifas, and Senafee. The complete editorial can be found on our website (click here).  

    Pray for Zaid, his wife and young children.  Pray for protection for the many evangelical Christians in prison for their faith in Eritrea , as well as those who are under constant threat.

    Compass Direct reported today (February 16) that thirty-one Eritrean Christians, including Zaid, had been jailed over the past ten days.  Since the beginning of the year, 187 Christians have been arrested for "illegal" activities.  According to Compass Direct, fourteen members of the Kale Hiwot Church in Adi-Tekelzan were apprehended on February 4 during a Bible study at the home of their pastor. Compass has also documented the arrest and transfer to the Mai-Serwa military camp of a physician identified as Dr. Segid in Keren during the last week of January. Last Saturday, February 12, fifteen Christian women who had gathered together for prayer were jailed at the police station in Keren.  Local authorities reportedly described the evangelical believers as "a threat to national security."

    The Voice of the Martyrs, together with 100 Huntley Street , produced a report on the suffering of Christians in Eritrea late last year.  This new video report, together with an earlier one from VOM, is available on our multimedia website, PersecutionTV.  It costs nothing to become a member of PersecutionTV, but membership gives you access to many resources that cannot be found anywhere else on the Internet.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Eritrea ,click here.
  • Eritrea Forms Special Task Force to Destroy ''Spirituals''

    By Habtom Yohannes
    February 7, 2005 

    “From Adi Abeito they forced us to walk all the way to Mai Sirwa bare foot. In Mai Sirwa they put us (around 30 believers) into a small container. We actually couldn’t breath and we thought we are going to die of suffocation. At that moment we shouted and called the guards and begged them to open the container so that we could breathe. The guards replied: “those responsible with the key have left for Asmara so keep quite until they come back tomorrow.” In the morning they opened the door but all of us lied fainted. We had no power even to utter words. But God saved us and I am here among you to witness this horrible deed.”

    A witness from Asmara (name and occupation not released due to security reasons,  HY).  

    The Asmara regime has formed a Special Task Force to eradicate “menfesawyan”  (Spirituals) from Eritrea by the end of 2005. One of the leaders of this Special Task Force is called by his first name Ghebremeskel. As part of this move the Isaias regime has increased its clampdown on followers of the so called Charismatic Movements (CM). See below for my definition of Charismatic Movement. Semere Zaid was arrested a week ago together with many other believers who disappeared behind bars without any charge.

    When I told my children about the arrest of Semere Zaid, lecturer at the University of Asmara they sighed: “what is going on in Eritrea? Everyone you know is disappearing without a trace: Journalists, ministers, generals, believers… etcetera. Couldn’t you do anything? Could the world do nothing?  Why do you allow one man to make the whole nation suffer like this?” Questions that are much stronger than my answers. Semere Zaid was not only an Eritrean intellectual but also a brother in Christ who chose to serve his nation against all odds.

    He earned his masters from, among others, the Agricultural University of Wageningen, here in The Netherlands. Last year he visited The Netherlands to do his PhD. His professors were stunned when they heard the arrest of Semere Zaid. His PhD study is interrupted indefinitely; freezed like human beings in Eritrea. 

    On December 26th  2004 Semere Zaid visited us to celebrate Christmas and the birthday of my eldest daughter. It was at that time that we discussed the arrest of the three clergy of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, among them the only psychiatrist in Eritrea Dr. Fitsum Gebrenigus. Others told Semere Zaid not to come back to Eritrea but he trusted in his innocence. He trusted in his brothers and sisters who have been running the nation as if it is their own playground. But children care much more about their playground than this inhuman regime about the nation and the people. Semere Zaid was determined to serve his nation and his people materially and spiritually. He believed in legality not knowing that legality is on a long vacation in present day Eritrea.

    Semere’s only “crime” is his determination to worship Jesus Christ according to his conscience. After members of the special task force started to look after him he chose to go to the police station together with officials of the University of Asmara. When the officials of the University reached the police station they were told to leave the station without their colleague and father of two small children (under five). They arrested him without charges. His students have been asking about his whereabouts but to no avail. We have a nation without a responsible regime and university officials and teachers who keep silent while their colleagues suffer. During the seventies when Eritrea was bleeding under Mengistoe Haile Mariam, security forces of Ethiopia used to roam schools in Asmara and arrest students at random. But we had teachers and directors at Point Four and Melestegna and KedamaWi Haile Selassie (Keyih Bahri) who defended their students and colleagues from arrest; nothing of this kind in present day Eritrea. Officials of University Asmara who keep silent while their colleagues and students suffer at the hands of this inhuman regime. 

    The Asmara regime has formed a Special Task Force to eradicate “menfesawyan”  (Spirituals) from Eritrea by the end of 2005. As part of this move the Isaias regime has increased its clampdown on followers of the so called Charismatic Movements.

    In my definition Charismatic Movements (CM) are the different Pentecostal denominations (Mulu Wengel, Rema and others) followers of Faith Mission Church,  Baptist Church (Kale Hiywet) and the renewal movements from within Eritrean Orthodox Church (Tewahdo), the Lutheran-Evangelical Church (Geza Kensha) and the Roman Catholic Church of Eritrea (katolic). As you know these three Christian Churches and followers of Islam under the Eritrean Mufti are allowed to worship as long as they dance to the tune of the regime. The leaders of these churches are keeping quite while their own children are being persecuted before their own eyes. May God the Almighty forgive them for their complicity? Conspiracy of silence! 

    Do you remember the wonderful song of Haile Gebru “Tekormika Motiye Asafihka Motiye Nianay Nibahri Nihade Ametye”? Some people, some religious leaders, some believers, some intellectuals think to save their skin by silence and as I said above: silence is conspiracy.

    When the Nazi’s of Hitler unleashed their destructive plan to arrest and destroy everyone who differs from their religion (what is Nazism other than destructive religion?) one told the following story:

    “When they arrested the homosexuals I didn’t protest because I was not a homosexual. When they arrested the Jehovah Witnesses, I kept quite because I was not a Jehovah Witness. When they jailed the Jews I closed my eyes because I was not a Jew. When they arrested the communists I continue to do my business because I was not a communist. When they came to arrest me there was nobody to witness let alone protest.” It seems history is repeating itself. Not only traditional religious leaders, intellectuals and businessmen inside Eritrea are keeping quite but also believers outside Eritrea. May God forgive us for our silence and May God protect our brothers and sisters inside the prisons of Eritrea.  The wider family members of these believers are also suffering. Especially wives and children are left behind without any form of income and support.

     Summary of a report I received today from Eritrea: (I won’t name the town for security reasons):

    Asmara

    The government has planned and decided to destroy called 'Menfesawuyan" in the year 2005. To carry out this operation the government has put in place special task force. One of the leaders is Ghebremeskel, who is dealing with different governmental organizations.

    The people of Asmara were told to inform the police and their local administration offices about any spirituals and houses where “menfesawyan” (spirituals) come together.  

    In the new year about 75 people were caught in different parts of Asmara from three Pentecostal churches while they were having Christmas and New Year programmes. About four families were caught together with their fathers, mothers and their children. Some of the mothers were arrested together with their babies. Some of them were released after a week. Some mothers are still in Mai Serwa, Adi Abeito and other police stations. Among the imprisoned are 20 students but they are still in the prisons. Nobody is allowed to visit them. 15 of the prisoners are children between 12-17. The regime is torturing them to forsake their faith but the have been refusing to do so.

    In the first two weeks of the New Year, about 55 believers were caught by the military police. The 40 people were worshipping five kilometres outside Asmara in Adi-Abeito. They were forced to walk bare foot to Mai Serwa. One witness told us: “From Adi Abeito they forced us to walk all the way to Mai Sirwa bare foot. In Mai Sirwa they put us (around 30 believers) into a small container. We actually couldn’t breath and we thought we are going to die of suffocation. At that moment we shouted and called the guards and begged them to open the container so that we could breathe. The guards replied: “those responsible with the key have left for Asmara so keep quite until they come back tomorrow.” In the morning they opened the door but all of us lied fainted. We had no power even to utter words. But God saved us and I am here among you to witness this horrible deed.”

    Some ten days ago the executive committee of the Full Gospel Church were taken by the security forces in two Four Wheel Toyota cars to unknown destination.  

    Hotels and Halls are forbidden to allow spirituals to organise weddings starting. So from January 2005 we (pastors and elders) are organising weddings in private homes.

    Zagir

    In January of this year about 30 young believers were gathered to celebrate Christmas and the New Year in Zagir. At that time the Special Security Force (hunters) came and grappled them. About 10 of these people are under age: 10 – 17 years! I heard this bad news from the elders of our local church when I went to Zagir for ministry after the day of the New Year. Some of them were ferried to Sawa but most of them are still in (…) behind bars.

    Adi Keyih

    In the first week of the year of the 2005 there was wedding of the Kalehiwote church. Two pastors went to Adi Keyih to lead the service.. While the wedding was going on the lawless people came and arrested the whole congregation, including the bride and the bridegroom. The two pastors were arrested and they took them to Sawa. One of the pastors is brother Ukbamicael who is in his late fifties.

    Dekemhare

    In Dekemhare there are always "Menfesawuyan" prisoners. They arrest and release them and they arrest them again. We call that “arrest by shift”. The regime is also confiscating all properties of spirituals; like tape recorder, books etcetera.

    The pastor for our local church in Dekemhare was told to leave the town of Dekemhare for three months in 2004 after they make him suffer in prison. He can’t use his leg and arm properly due to torture. One menfesawi who has a music shop in Dekemhare was arrested for two weeks, punished and must pay five thousand Nakfa because they found spiritual cassettes in his shop. And the one who sang the song was punished and must pay three thousand Nakfa. People in Dekemhare are prohibited from renting houses to spirituals. If you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal saviour you are not allowed to rent a house.  

    Massawa

    Local Churches in Massawa are forced to close at the end of 2004.

    Assab.

    Many believers were ferried to the Denakil areas to suffer: torture, neglection, deprivation and even killings. Christians prisoners in this are suffer a lot and are totally forbidden from receiving anything from family members or friends while their torturers indulge in luxury. As I have confirmed during my last trip to Assab in 2004 there are many prisoners who are suffering from different kinds of diseases. Because of this around six Christians died in prison. Those who refuse to recant their faith are made to suffer a lot in the eyes of other prisoners. Those who refuse until the end might be killed by death squads. There are reports of such killings.  Menfesawian are passing through many hardships. I witnessed myself many horrible things. The strong believers are put in a place called SHELLA. Shella is about two by two meters; they put three people with different language together. My brother was put for about five months in such a cell together with Affar people. God helped him and learned the language in the cell and told them about Jesus Christ. God is wonderful even in suffering. The worst human rights violations are taking place in Eritrea my brother.

    Adi Nifas

    There is one family of our local church in Adi Nifas; persecuted and suffered for the last six Finally the local governor forced them to sign a letter that they will not be buried inside Eritrea. With joy and boldness they signed the paper. For your surprise: these Eritrean parents have three children in national service, working for their nation and defending their country without any payment. But the regime made of them a pariah inside their own country, inside their own town. In October 2004 they had a wedding of their daughter. Nobody from the town was allowed to attend the wedding. I attended the wedding together with a family and a choir from …(a known place inside Eritrea).

    Senafee

    In the end of the 2004 about 40 Menfesawian have been arrested while they are celebrating the sermon of wedding.

    Dear brother Habtom; people are suffering a lot in whole Eritrea just because of their faith. We are praying in faith to the God of our mothers and fathers for redemption of our nation and our people. We have been serving our nation in national service and we have been trustworthy in different responsibilities. The government knows that! The regime is not in a position to accuse us of any other crime than our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. If that is a crime then we will stand up till the end to defend our faith. We love our people and our nation since that is what God has taught us. But we love our people in Truth and Light!

    God bless you and please help us in everything you can, because your people are suffering. 

    Copyright © 2001- 2004 Habtom Yohannes. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser.
  • Three Evangelical Christians Arrested
    Pastor Kidane Gebremeskel

    The Voice of the Martyrs has just learned that three more evangelical Christians have been arrested in Eritrea. Pastor Kidane Gebremeskel, youth pastor Abraham Belay and Fanieal Tesfa Mariam of the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea were detained by Eritrean authorities this morning (January 21, 2005). Their whereabouts are unknown. The Voice of the Martyrs will continue to monitor the situation and release more details as they become available.

    Please remember to pray for these believers and their families during this time.  There are now over 550 known Christians in detention in Eritrea because of their Christian activities.
  • Two Wedding Parties Raided

    Eritrea is one of the most dangerous places in the world for evangelical Christians today.  Despite government denials, religious persecution is rampant and hundreds of Christians are in prison for their faith. Only three churches are approved by the government: Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran.  Members of all other churches, as well as those involved in revival movements in one of the approved churches, face prison and torture.

    According to a January 14 report from Compass Direct, the first reported crackdown against members of the Catholic Church took place when authorities raided a wedding rehearsal on January 9, arresting twenty-five people, including 17 women.  The same day, another wedding party was raided in Barentu.  According to reports received by VOM, sixty-seven evangelical Christians were arrested when security police stopped a wedding party on the way to the hotel where the wedding was to take place.  Three clergymen among the prisoners were identified as pastors Oqbamichel and Simon from the Kale Hiwot Church, and Hagos Tuomai from the Full Gospel Church.  There are reports that everyone, including elderly and young children, have been sent to the Sawa Military Camp for punishment, but this has yet to be confirmed.  VOM has also received news of the re-arrest on January 17 of another Christian leader who had previously been detained a few weeks ago but released.
    Sawa Military Camp

    Pray for physical, emotional and spiritual strength for those suffering for their faith in Eritrea.  Pray that those in prison will be released and that, while in prison, they will find the freedom to serve Christ in the face of their sufferings.

    For more information on the severe persecution facing Christians in Eritrea,click here. To view a video report on persecution facing Eritrean Christians today, go to the Video section VOM's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/. 
  • Sixty Evangelical Christians Arrested

    Sixty evangelical Christians were arrested during a New Year's celebration at the home of one of the leaders of the Rema Charismatic Church in the Eritrean capital of Asmara. According to a January 5 report from Compass Direct, police took the hosts, Habteab Oqbamichel and his wife Letensae, into custody, along with another 23 men and 35 women. Five of the men are reported to be minors. Letensae was released on January 4, but the rest remain in solitary confinement at the Mai-Serwa military camp north of Asmara. This is the third time since May 2003 that Habteab has been arrested.

    Christians imprisoned at the Mai-Serwa military camp are routinely held in shipping containers like these.

    Eritrean sources report a marked increase in surveillance in the past three months, since the U.S. State Department designated Eritrea a "country of particular concern" because of its religious rights violations. It is believed that more than four hundred evangelical Christians are presently imprisoned for their faith. Eritrea denies any religious persecution.

    After BBC correspondent Jonah Fisher was expelled from Eritrea, he summarized the position of the Eritrean government in this way: "The government seems to have decided that anyone who does not follow a certain standard is an enemy of the people, is an enemy of the state. It is afraid that people who consider their highest allegiance to be God, at some point may not be patriotic and follow the state's instructions."

    Pray for spiritual and physical strength for these and the hundreds of other believers suffering torture for their faith in Eritrea.

    For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Eritrea,click here. Last year, The Voice of the Martyrs produced a video report on conditions facing Christians in Eritrea. Go to the video section of PersecutionTV to review. Registration is required, but membership is free.
  • More Details on Arrested Orthodox Leaders
    Church leader demonstrates the abuse he faced from Eritrean authorities

    Last week, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on the arrest of three Orthodox Church leaders (click here for details).  The government of Eritrea has banned all religions other than the Orthodox, Evangelical Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches.  It was therefore somewhat unusual for Orthodox leaders to be arrested.  However, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that the three were all priests involved in a renewal movement within the Orthodox Church; a movement opposed by the government.

    Continue to pray for these three, along with hundreds of others imprisoned for their faith in Eritrea .

    For more information on persecution facing Christians in Eritrea ,click here.  Earlier this year, The Voice of the Martyrs produced a video report on conditions facing Christians in Eritrea .  Go to the video section of PersecutionTV to review.  Registration is required, but membership is free.
  • Three Orthodox Church Leaders Arrested
    Church leader demonstrates the abuse he faced from Eritrean authorities

    Sources for The Voice of the Martyrs report that three Orthodox Christians were arrested by Eritrea authorities last Thursday (November 18).  Dr. Tekleab, a medical doctor, Dr. Setsum, a psychiatrist, and an Orthodox priest, Father Gebremedhin are reportedly being detained at Police Station #2 in Asmara .  Dr. Setsum was previously arrested a few months ago but released after a week.  All three are known leaders in the Eritrean Orthodox Church and it is believed that their arrests are due to their Christian activities.  Details are still forthcoming.  Please remember these three men and their families in your prayers.  While the majority of Christians arrested in Eritrea in recent years have been evangelical Christians who have been refused permission to register, there have also been incidents where Christians from registered churches, such as the Lutheran and Orthodox, have been detained and mistreated.

    To learn more about the persecution facing Christians in Eritrea ,click here.  To view a video report on Eritrea , go to the Video section of https://www.vomcanada.com/. 

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