ERITREA: 16 Pastors Among Nearly 900 Christians in Jail

From: Compass Direct - April 20, 2005

Currently 16 full-time pastors are among nearly 900 Eritrean Christians known to be jailed in local prisons, military confinement camps, and shipping containers for daring to meet secretly for prayer and worship outside government-sanctioned churches. Despite a heavy-handed clampdown by Eritrea’s security police, evangelical sources in the tiny northeast African nation have managed to compile a documented list of 883 Christians now being held without trial or charges because of their faith.

Only a handful of prisoners have been released after recently being coerced to sign pledges to stop attending religious services of the unregistered, “illegal” denominations.

Eritrean President's Office Accuses Human Rights Groups

In an interview April 5 with Agence France Press (AFP), the director of the Eritrean President’s office, Yemane Gebremeskel, claimed that arrested members of the banned Christian groups “are maybe held for five hours and then let off with a warning.” He also accused human rights groups criticizing Eritrea’s violations of religious freedom of getting their information off the Internet and giving “arbitrary figures.”

Compass confirmed the names of 16 pastors currently under arrest in three prison locations in Eritrea. Four are held at the Mai Serwa military camp just north of the capital, two at the Sawa military center near the Sudanese border, and 10 in Asmara’s notorious Wongel Mermera investigation center.

The imprisoned clergy include eight Full Gospel Church pastors: Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel, Haile Naizgi, Hagos Abraha, Abraham Belay, Kidane Gebremeskel, Fanuel Mihreteab, Tewelde Gebreab, and Kidane Weldu.

Other pastors include: Tesfatsion Hagos and Habteab Oqbamichael (Rema Church), Oqbamichael Haimanot and Isaac Mehari (Kale Hiwot Church), and Yohannes Tesfamichael (New Covenant Church).

In addition, three clerics from Medhane Alem, a Sunday school movement which is part of the Orthodox Church, have also been under arrest since March 13. They are the Rev. Dr. Futsum Kuluberhan, the Rev. Dr. Tekleab Mengisteab, and the Rev. Gebremedhin Georgis.

Four of the pastors, all of whom are married with children, have been jailed incommunicado since last year.

Of the 12 other pastors and hundreds of church members arrested since January of this year, most were apprehended either at prayer meetings in homes of fellow believers or while attending wedding ceremonies. Several others were picked up individually from their homes or offices.

Prisoner Count

According to the compiled list of prisoners, there are 235 evangelical believers jailed at Sawa, 65 at Mai Serwa, 53 in Adi-Abyto, 73 in Assab, 190 in Weaa, 100 in Gelalo, 101 in Alaa, and 16 at Adi Teklizan. A number are still being held in local police stations - 41 in Asmara and nine in Keren. At least 144 of the jailed Christians are women.

Local Protestant sources confirm that, 11 months after her arrest, popular Christian singer Helen Berhane from the Rema Church is still incarcerated at Mai Serwa. Berhane has been alternately held in a metal container or locked in solitary confinement in an underground cell as officials attempt to force her to renounce participation in banned Christian services.

For the past three years, the Eritrean government has refused to register any of the nation’s fast-growing independent Protestant churches, insisting that only three Christian denominations - the Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran churches - enjoy government recognition along with Islam.

Full story here.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Christian Solidarity Worldwide has announced a Day of Prayer for Eritrea on May 22, 2005, with the following Prayer Points:

Pray for Those in Prison ...

* That God would comfort and strengthen them and enable them to win their jailers and fellow prisoners for Christ.
* That the Lord would deliver and heal those who have suffered or are currently suffering assault or torture.
* That he would comfort and provide for families enduring hardship because their main wage earners are in prison.
* A pastor fled the country after escaping from a metal container! Thank God for supernatural escapes and pray for more divine intervention (Acts 12 & 16).

Pray for Imprisoned Church Leaders ...

* For their physical well-being.
* That they may know the Lord's closeness.
* That the Lord would strengthen and encourage them.
* That he would watch over their churches and comfort and provide for their families.

Pray for Those Who Meet in Secret ...

* That they would be encouraged and freshly empowered during their meetings.
* That God would fill them with his Spirit and with great boldness (Acts 4:23-31).
* That God would make their meetings invisible to the authorities.
* That the Lord would raise up able leaders to fill the void left by those who have been imprisoned.
* That the churches would multiply during this time of persecution.

Pray for Those in Government ...

* That the authorities would have a change of heart and policy and realize that tolerance and democratization enhance national unity.
* That God would remove any officials that persist in conducting and condoning repression.
* That the border dispute with Ethiopia would be resolved justly and peacefully so that it can no longer be used to justify repression.
* That the Eritrean population would reject propaganda and realize that targeted Christian groups are being persecuted severely and unfairly.

Pray for Reconciliation ...

* Pray for understanding between the different Christian traditions and that they exercise understanding, sensitivity, wisdom, and respect when dealing with each other.
* Pray for a growth in unity (John 17:20-21) and that the different denominations would see each other as part of the same body (Romans 12:5), realizing that a house divided against itself will not stand.
* Pray against suspicion, division, sectarianism, and traditions that have taken the place of true faith and sound doctrine.
* Pray for the healing of divisions in Eritrean society that have been caused by recent events.

For more resources to help you in praying for Eritrea in your church or prayer group, visit the CSW web site.

Last Updated: May 18, 2005
©2005 Caleb Project. All Rights Reserved.

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