Human rights organisation Release International has launched a petition
and is calling a day of prayer on behalf of persecuted Christians in
Eritrea. The Day of Prayer is 24 May - Eritrea's National Day.
Since 2002 the Marxist-style regime in this African nation has detained
more than 2,000 Christians without trial and forced dozens of churches
and Christian ministries to close. Many believers have been tortured to
try to force them to renounce their faith.
Secret police routinely spy on Christians, and many leading pastors
and Christian workers have been arrested, say Release International.
In most cases they have disappeared without trace inside Eritrea's
prison system. Relatives are often kept in the dark as to whether their
loved ones are dead or alive.
The authorities have incarcerated Christians in metal shipping
containers in the desert, without light or sanitation. These become
like ovens by day and freezers by night. Other forms or torture are
common.
Christians undergoing military service are forbidden from meeting
together, from worshipping or reading a Bible. Those who refuse to
renounce their faith are detained indefinitely.
Three Christians held for their faith in military jails have died in
the past six months - the latest on 16 January. He was 42-year-old
Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom, who had been held in solitary confinement.
He died from torture and diabetes. Mehari was a member of the Church of
the Living God in Mendefera.
Since 2002 Eritrea has recognised only three churches: the Orthodox
Church of Eritrea, the Roman Catholic Church and the
Lutheran-affiliated Evangelical Church of Eritrea. The authorities have
closed down all other churches.
The Release petition can be downloaded from www.releaseinternational.org
