Eritrean Officials Arrest Eleven Christians in the Latest Crackdown

ICC Note

Eritrea has imprisoned over three thousand Christians for choosing to practice their faith.

10/27/2010 Washington, D.C. – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on October 20, Eritrean government officials arrested 11 Christians and took them to unknown locations.

Eritrean security officials rounded up the Christians from the cities of Mendefera, Dekemharre and Dibarwa following an order given by Mustafa Nurhussein, the governor of the Southern Zone (province) of Eritrea. The governor ordered a crackdown on Christians living in his province.

The security officials also confiscated TVs, video players and other electronic equipment that belonged to the Christians.

Most of the detained belong to the Full Gospel Church, an evangelical church that was among those that were banned by Eritrean officials in 2002. Eritrea only recognizes four religious groups: Islam, the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Evangelical Church of Eritrea. Even members of the recognized Christian groups have not escaped persecution. In May 2007, Eritrean officials deposed Abune Antonios, patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church and put him under house arrest. The patriarch and several other members of the church still remain in custody.

The communist government officials of Eritrea have detained more than three thousand Christians, keeping them under inhumane conditions. Christians are imprisoned in metal shipping containers, military barracks and underground dungeons. Many Christians have died inside the prisons due to torture and harsh prison conditions.    

ICCs Regional Manager for Africa, Jonathan Racho, said, ‘We are saddened to hear about the detention of the 11 Christians. Eritrean officials have continued to mistreat Christians in the country for choosing to practice their faith. We ask Eritrea to immediately release the 11 Christians and the more than 3000 others who are illegally detained. Where is the outcry from the international community for the plight of Christians in Eritrea?’