ICC Note: 32 Eritrean Christians have been arrested in the capitol city, Asmara, in March. Among these 32 were a newlywed couple and several of their guests. The couple was spilt upon being arrested. 23 of these Christians, including the new groom, remain in detention with no idea if they will ever be released.

03/29/2018 Eritrea (World Watch Monitor) – Eritrean police have arrested 32 Christians in the capital, Asmara, this month, including a newlywed couple and ten of their guests.

Twenty were arrested on Sunday, 25 March, all of whom remain in detention.

The newly married man and two of his guests are being held in a prison north of the city. The newlyweds and ten guests were arrested at the couple’s home on 5 March, a local source told World Watch Monitor.

Ten friends were visiting the couple for a traditional coffee ceremony to welcome the bride when the local security officers forced their way into the house and arrested all 12 people there. They were taken to Asmara’s No. 5 Police Station.

The authorities released eight of the group two days later, after they presented valid travel IDs (documents of permission to move around Eritrea). The four remaining Christians, including the newlyweds, were moved to Adi Abeito Prison, north of Asmara. According to the World Watch Monitor source, the newlywed couple was split up after the arrest and the bride was released yesterday (27 March).

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