11 More Jailed by Eritrea in Raids against Evangelical Christians

Some more cases of persecution against evangelical Christians in March have been confirmed, according to Compass Direct. A printing press businessman, a Christian bank manager and 10 members of the Kale Hiwot (Word of Life) Church were arrested, among them only one was released. The total number of evangelical Christians being arrested in March therefore tops 150 in new major crackdowns.

According to Compass Direct, Mr Tekete the Semhare Graphics Printing Press owner was arrested by the authorities from the National Security Office in the capital Asmara, Eritrea on the morning of 22nd March with the facilities sealed and office computers confiscated for investigation.

Tekete was accused of printing Christian publication for various Eritrean churches. Luckily, he was able to avoid detention after paying a penalty. He was permitted to resume the operation of his printing press under the condition that he obtains official permission before publishing any Christian materials.

Vice manager of the Housing and Commerce Bank of Eritrea, Demoze Afwerki, was reported to be arrested on 18th March - the same day as when the Full Gospel Church Pastor Kidane Weldou disappeared. The 55-year-old Afwerki is an active member of the Full Gospel Church.

Compass Direct said they are believed to be jailed at Wongel Mermera, a government investigation centre in Asmara. At least four Protestant pastors and other evangelicals arrested over the past 10 months may also be in this prison.

Another case took place on 9th March, 10 members of the Kale Hiwot (Word of Life) Church were arrested while worshipping together in a home. "It was merely a Christian meeting for worship, not a political meeting or danger to ‘national security,’ as the authorities try to accuse the believers," a source told Compass Direct.

Since the beginning of 2005, at least 241 Christians have been arrested in six cities and towns across Eritrea when caught praying, reading the Bible and worshipping together, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). CSW report that many remain in custody in police stations, jails, military camps or even metal shipping containers, subjected to beatings, torture and cruel deprivations.

The alleged government-sponsored restrictions have targeted evangelical or protestant Christians in Eritrea and have sparked international concern. Only the Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Church and Muslim religion are officially recognised by the Eritrean government. Early in May 2002, it has ordered all of Eritrea’s independent Protestant churches, including Adventist, Presbyterian, Assemblies of God, Methodist, Baptist as well as indigenous Pentecostal and charismatic churches to close down.

In the wake of the 61st session of the 53-nation United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) now underway in Geneva, human rights groups have taken the opportunity to lobby for the religious freedom in some specific countries. A US human rights campaign group Freedom House has published a report called "The Worst of the Worst: The World's Most Repressive Societies 2005" on Thursday, describing the "dire human rights situations" in some of the worst countries.

Significantly, six of the eighteen most repressive governments - China, Cuba, Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe - are members of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), representing nearly 11 percent of the 53-member body.

In a new public appeal released 24th March, Amnesty International declared, "Religious persecution is a feature of life in Eritrea, despite government claims to the contrary. There are frequent reports of evangelical church members being tortured by the security forces in an attempt to force them to abandon their faith."