35 Christians – many of them women, were arrested in Eritrea for hosting prayer meetings.
According to Release International, the arrests took place last month, when the army raided a prayer meeting spearheaded by 23 women in the capital Asmara. Another 12 were assembled out of a house in Assab, some 660 miles south east of Asmara, near the border with Djibouti.
The persecution watchdog explained that the women in the capital were praying close to the army barracks, when soldiers invaded their facility, and took them to Mai Sarawa prison.
“In Eritrea, citizens have a duty to report anything untoward happening in their community. This can turn ordinary neighbours into spies. In some cases their own family members have reported Christians. With these latest arrests, it is possible the Christians gave themselves away by the numbers turning up to pray or the sound of their singing,” Release International said.
Of the Christians arrested in Asmara, 22 were released on April 11, however, it is not known why one Christian remains in captivity. The 12 arrested in Assab are still reportedly being held in a remote area of the city and under harsh conditions, the Barnabas Fund reports.
Speaking to media reporters, Eritrean church leader and a partner of Release International, Dr. Berhane Asmelash requested prayers for the Christians still imprisoned and for their families as they anxiously await their release.
The latest arrests, sources say, dash hopes of a change of heart towards Christians in Eritrea, where many have been imprisoned for their faith since the country closed most of its churches in 2002 and outlawed most religions. Only three Christian denominations are legally permitted – Eritrean Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Lutheran – as well as Sunni Islam, according to Barnabas Fund.
“Eritrea has been likened to the North Korea of Africa,” said Release International CEO Paul Robinson. “Release continues to press the government to release its prisoners of faith – every one of them. We urge Eritrea to repeal its restrictive religious laws and grant full freedom of faith to its citizens.”
