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Eritrea

• Arrests Continue Despite Loss of Imprisoned Mother

  
  In October 2005, Rev. Nelson Fernandez,
  who pastored a church in Asmara
  (pictured), was ordered to leave the
  country for addressing the government's
  ill-treatment of Christians.
  Photo: World Watch Monitor

  A woman by the name of Fikadu Debesay, who was arrested with her husband during raids targeting Christians, passed away recently while in incarceration. The mother of three reportedly died in Metkel Abiet, a desert camp located within the Northern Red Sea Region, and was buried on August 10th in Mendefera. While the cause of her death is still unknown, the camp where she was detained is situated in an area known for its oppressive heat and aridity.

• Substantial Increase in Arrests

  The total number of Eritrean Christians arrested since the beginning of May has now risen to more than 160. On May 26th, nearly 100 people were arrested. (To review VOMC's report on these arrests, click here.) Since then, many more arrests have been confirmed...and they include families with young children.

• One Hundred Christians Recently Detained

  The Eritrean government has stepped up its campaign against Christians, arresting almost a hundred followers of Christ in recent weeks. The arrests came as believers in the repressive East African country marked ten years since government officials placed the Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch, Abune Antonios, under house arrest and incommunicado, and 15 years since the forced closure of many churches.

• Abuse Victims Die Following Hunger Strike

  Two Christian women tragically died in Eritrea on March 17th, just days after being transferred to a hospital from detention where they had been on a hunger strike. According to the Eritrean website, Erimedrek News, the two women were detained at the Wi'a military camp prior to being transported in critical condition to Massawa Hospital on March 12th. They had embarked on a hunger strike in protest of the horrific abuse they were receiving while in detention. Upon medical investigation, their bodies were allegedly marked with bruising consistent with sexual abuse.

  The Eritrean government is one of the most repressive in the world. Thousands of prisoners of conscience are detained arbitrarily for indefinite periods of time in unsatisfactory facilities where conditions are life-threatening and torture is rife. A campaign of arrests targeting selected religious communities has been ongoing since 2002 when the government effectively outlawed all Christian practises not affiliated with certain denominations and Sunni Islam.

  In its June 2016 report, the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on human rights in Eritrea found "reasonable grounds to believe" that crimes against humanity have been committed by state officials in a "widespread and systematic manner" since 1991. Crimes of persecution against religious groups involve all forms of abuse, including repeated rape or gang rape by detention officials.

  Thank you for upholding the grieving families and friends of the two deceased Christian women. As they grieve over the tragic loss of these precious lives, may they take comfort in knowing that their loved ones are now in the glorious presence of Jesus -- where they are freed from pain, sorrow and fear.... Pray that this case will be used to expose the grave injustices and evil practices within Eritrea's prison system and, therefore, serve to bring about greatly needed change. Additionally, please intercede for the safe release of the numerous Christians remaining in captivity, and for God's wisdom and protection to be granted to all who are diligently striving to carry out the Great Commission in this repressive nation.

• Refugees Boldly Testify of Christian Faith

  Inhumane prison conditions of Christians in Eritrea.

  As Eritreans celebrated 24 years of independence last month, the underground Christian church remained among the religious minorities operating with the least freedom. In their latest report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warns that the greatest shortcomings in religious freedom are felt by minority groups such as those consisting of evangelical Christians. USCIRF maintains its position that Eritrea be designated again in 2015 as a "country of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act. (For a historical video documentary on persecution in Eritrea, please click here.)

  Greg Musselman, a spokesman for The Voice of the Martyrs Canada, describes the extreme conditions faced by Eritrean Christians: "Today, you've got anywhere between 3,000 to 4,000 Christians there who are imprisoned in shipping containers or military camps because of their faith." Backed by the young nation's official ban on religious activities, Eritrea allows torture and other forms of cruelty toward religious prisoners, as well as random arrests and detentions without charges. Such practices, he adds, are motivated by the reality that "the government of Eritrea sees evangelical Christianity as 'western'...linking it with the CIA."

  Numerous Eritrean Christians have sought to escape their hardships by fleeing to Ethiopia where their boldness is inspiring non-believers to receive salvation. Having personally spoken with several of these refugees, Greg Musselman reports, "They are actually seeing many from (various) religious backgrounds -- Muslim and Orthodox -- enter into a personal relationship with Jesus."

  Praise the Lord for providing these Eritrean believers a means of escape to safe refuge, and also for using them to lead others to salvation! Please pray that He will work deeply in the hearts of the country's governing leaders so they will grant His people needed freedom to worship Him and glorify His matchless name. May the officials be strongly convicted of their wrongdoings in enforcing such ungodly policies and acutely aware of the fact that they must ultimately give an account of their lives and political governance to an Almighty God.

• Christian Man Imprisoned Since 2011

  Mussie Eyob

  After facing arrest several years ago, Mussie Eyob remains imprisoned because of his faith and desire to share the Good News with others. The Eritrean man became a Christian in 2008. Three years later, while living in Saudi Arabia, Mussie visited a local mosque where he spoke with attendants about Christianity. On February 12, 2011, he was arrested for preaching to Muslims and subsequently imprisoned.

  Proselytizing is a capital offence in Saudi Arabia. Yet, following appeals from various human rights groups and individuals, the Saudi authorities decided to deport him instead of carrying out the death sentence. Therefore, he was deported back to Eritrea in November of 2011. However, about three weeks after Mussie arrived in his home country, the Christian man simply disappeared into the vast prison system where many pastors and evangelists have been detained incommunicado. For a long time, no one knew exactly where Mussie was being held and had any means of communicating with him.

  Just recently, trusted sources have received news that Mussie is in fact a prisoner at Me'etr prison. Located in northwest Eritrea, this prison camp was opened in 2007 specifically to house Christians who had been arrested because of their faith. (Currently, there are believed to be approximately 89 prisoners at Me'etr.) At least two detained Eritrean believers -- Mogos Hagos Kiflom, 37, and Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom, 42 -- had died in Me'etr during 2009. Thankfully, Mussie appears to be in reasonably good health and does his best to work hard at the prison labour camp on behalf of prisoners who are sick, elderly or physically weak.

  As Mussie continues to suffer because of his great love for Jesus, pray that He will sense the Lord's abiding presence in his daily prison life. Ask that he and the other believers currently being detained at Me'etr be granted release so they can become joyfully reunited with their families. Until that time, may God grant Mussie continued health and strength so this faithful brother in Christ will be used mightily to both encourage the other prisoners and serve as an effective witness to the prison guards.

  You may reach out to Mussie and his family members by writing them an encouraging note. However, we ask that you do not make mention of VOMC in your note, advance your political opinions, or state anything that could be considered insulting to the authorities. Please contact us, and our staff will then forward your letters to Eritrea. For more guidelines on writing prisoners, visit our website.

• Authorities Arrest Believers from Officially Recognized Church

  Five Christians training to be pastors were arrested recently in Asmara. While the detention of believers is not uncommon in Eritrea, this case is unique in that these Christians belong to the Lutheran church -- one of the four legally recognized religious communities in the country. (The other three "legal" groups are the Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and Sunni Islam.)

• Denied Medical Treatment Results in Woman's Death

  Photo: CSW

  An Eritrean Christian woman has become the latest known prisoner of conscience to have died in Eritrea. Wehazit Berhane Debesai, who was in her thirties, died of pneumonia during the week of October 14th, following a year of imprisonment in harsh conditions. Despite the seriousness of her failing health, she was denied access to medical treatment for refusing to denounce her Christian beliefs.

• Total of 185 Christians Arrested At Prayer Meeting

  Photo: Release International

  Eritrean security forces have arrested 185 Christians following a raid on a prayer meeting. Most of those arrested were women. It's believed that these Christians had gathered in the suburb of Maitemenai (north of the capital, Asmara) to pray about the dangerous exodus of Eritreans from the country. "The arrest has alarmed underground church leaders who fear that this may be a sign of things to come," states Paul Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Release International in the United Kingdom. He adds that "church leaders fear this mass arrest could herald a new clampdown on Christians and a wave of further detentions."

• Unsuspecting Christians Arrested During Prayer Meeting

  Some Eritrean Christians are detained in shipping containers such as these. Pray they’ll survive these inhumane conditions. Photo: Open Doors

  On August 24th, Eritrean authorities arrested members of the Church of the Living God in Kushet, a village near the capital city of Asmara, as they met for evening prayer. Among the 30 arrested were 12 women. Although the circumstances of their arrest are not known, sources state that these believers are now under pressure to recant their faith during detainment.