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October 18, 2006

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1 in 10 Eritrean evangelicals jailed

 
October 17, 2006,
 
By Thuli Ngubeni
 
News coming out of Asmara indicates that atleast 29 Eritrean Christians have been detained from three towns across the country in the month of August. AND invites you to submit breaking news in video (phone/camera),pictures, audio (mp3/ipod) & text - click the "register as a journalist" button & submit your story.
 

On the 17th of August 2006, 10 Christians attending a home prayer in the Edaga Arbi district of Asmara were arrested and remain in detention. Likewise earlier this month 15 Christians and a further four were arrested in similar raids from home prayer meetings in Keren and Massawa respectively.

These arrests occurred at a time when friends, families and fellow church members were anxiously waiting for news of over 50 young people who were arrested from Mai Nefhi College back in May, for refusing to participate in Independence Day celebrations.

Release Eritrea has learnt that as of Mid August the detained students, who refused to sign declarations recanting their faith, were transferred from Mai Nefhi prison to undisclosed locations. Those who chose to sign documents were released from prison but denied registration onto their courses for the new academic year.

Eritrean Authorities have also clamped down on the Aid and development activities of Kalehiwet church. In March 2006 two leaders from the church were arrested and cars and equipment that was found in their possession at the time was confiscated. Pastor Simon Tsegay and Gebremichael Yohaness (who were both arrested and released in October) are believed to be at the crime investigation prison in the centre of Asmara (wenjel mirmera).

Following these arrests and the continued unease the ministry of Labour and Human Resources is said to have finally given Kalehiwet Church orders to hand over all developmental and aid projects, property and resources, including the schools that the church runs across the country.

The government is also said to have withdrawn Kalehiwot Church’s status as an NGO. In a statement Dr Berhane Asmelash Director of Release Eritrea UK said: ‘it is of great concern to me that people continue to be arrested like this, it is reported that there are over 2,000 Christians currently in prison in Eritrea, this figure represents roughly 1 in 10 Eritrean Evangelicals and Pentecostals it is an alarmingly high ratio.’

Speaking on the closure of the relief and development project of kalehiwet Church Dr Asmelash said ‘I am very familiar with the project, it has several schools, emergency feeding centres and various health and development initiatives that provide services to the entire population of the most deprived areas in Eritrea, I am dismayed that the government has made these moves that jeopardise the lives of thousands of Eritreans without any considerations of consequences’.

Release Eritrea calls on all Eritreans and Friends of Eritrea to renounce the religious persecution that continues unabated in Eritrea.

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image Christians attending a home prayer in the Edaga Arbi district of Asmara were arrested
 
 
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