Eritrea

Around 100 people held a rally last week at the Eritrean Embassy in London to mark the 10th anniversary of the government's crackdown on Christians and religious people in the small African country often compared to North Korea for its repressive regime.

The government of Eritrea grants religious freedom to only a handful of faith groups – the Roman Catholic Church, the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church (which is not recognized by the Orthodox papacy), the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Sunni Islam. All other faith groups are illegal, and as many as 2,000–3,000 Protestant Christians in the country have reportedly been jailed for their beliefs.

Every church in Eritrea not belonging to these specific faiths has been closed down, despite activists and concerned citizens calling on the international community to put pressure on the government and call for the release of all prisoners of conscience. more >>

Eritrean Christians fleeing persecution in their homeland are facing imprisonment, torture, beatings and sexual assault in Egypt, reports Barnabas Fund.

The charity, which supports the persecuted church worldwide, estimates that hundreds of Eritrean Christian refugees have been subjected to terrible abuse after arriving in Egypt.

Egypt is the most popular destination for Christians escaping from Eritrea, one of the most hostile countries in the world for followers of the faith. more >>

Over 100 Christians have been detained in a series of arrests by Eritrean security officials since Dec. 30, Open Doors, a ministry advocating for persecuted Christians, reported Thursday.

Authorities targeted churches in and around the capital of Asmara, and also the town of Nakfa, located in northern Eritrea. The arrests confirmed fears of a government crackdown of churches.

On New Year’s Eve, the entire 41-member congregation of Philadelphia Church in Asmara was taken into custody for questioning, and members were allegedly beaten. more >>

A vigil was held outside the Eritrean Embassy in London this week in protest of religious persecution and human rights abuses taking place in Eritrea.

Seventy demonstrators came together on Tuesday from the British Orthodox Church, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Church in Chains Ireland, Human Rights Concern Eritrea, Release International and Open Doors to protest against the persecution of minority believers in the east African country.

Eritrea only permits people to adhere to the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Islamic faiths. Authorities arrest, imprison and in some cases torture members that belong to unregistered “illegal” evangelical churches. The government is highly suspicious of newer Christian movements such as the evangelical and Pentecostal ones and frequently harasses their followers. more >>

Eritrean authorities recently released 14 Christians who had spent the last two years in harsh military camps, a Christian persecution watchdog reported Thursday.

Twelve young Christians were released from Adi-Nefase military camp, located in the southern port city of Assab, Eritrea, according to Open Doors USA. All 12 of the released Christians are members of the Kale-Hiwot Church and were high school students at the time of their arrest.

Upon their release, authorities warned the believers not to participate in any Christian activities or risk execution, according to the watchdog. more >>

Thirty elderly Christian women who were arrested by Eritrean authorities earlier this month have been released, a Christian persecution watchdog announced Wednesday.

In a brief e-mail newsletter, International Christian Concern reported the women’s release without further details.

“We would like to thank all of you for praying for these women and all Eritrean Christians,” said ICC President Jeff King, in the e-mail. “We remain extremely concerned about the situation of Christians in Eritrea,” he added, noting the some 3,000 Christians who are still detained in the country because of their faith. more >>