Christian & Human Rights Groups call for Release of Eritrea Christians

Jubilee Campaign in cooperation with Christian Solidarity International (CSI) have announced that they will host a rally in front of the Eritrean embassy in Washington DC next Wednesday 25th May 2005. The gathering is organised in protest against the Eritrean government's stand in the issue of religious freedom.

The population of Eritrea consists of two main religious communities, with 50% Christian and 50% Muslim. Among the Christian churches working in the area are the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church and some smaller Christian churches and groups.

However, the ruling Popular Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) led by Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki, has become increasingly intolerant towards religious minorities. In May 2002 the government agreed for the four main religions in Eritrea to be recognised: Sunni Muslims, Eritrean Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church. A requirement for registration of all religious groups working in the country soon followed. In addition, all churches waiting for registration or unregistered were said to now be "unauthorised."

Jubilee Campaign's Ann Buwalda says: "In the months following this decree, however, it became clear that the government had little intention of registering even those groups that complied with the strict and intrusive demands of the registration process."

As the result of this, many Christian churches were closed, Christian believers arrested and persecuted. As ASSIST News Service cited Buwalda, the government began "arresting those who defied the order by continuing to meet, detaining them without charge in a variety of camps and facilities" and according to the Amnesty International Report 2004, their treatment was described as torture.

Despite the fact that the constitutional law of Eritrea guarantees religious freedom, and even Eritrea has agreed with - International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights - all of which ensure freedom of belief, Christians are still facing intolerance and persecution.

According to Release Eritrea, there are approximately 900 Christians in prison, including the lead church leaders Dr Kiflu Gebremeskel, Rev Haile Naizghi and Pastor Tesfazion Hagos - all are being held "illegally".

Director of Release-Eritrea, Dr. Berhane Asmelash expressed his concerns: "I am really distressed to hear about the continued incarceration of my friends and colleagues with whom I have served the Lord over the years. I have absolutely no words to excuse the actions of a government; they have served, faithfully and dutifully, treating them with utter disdain befitting condemned criminals."

Human rights and religious freedom activists are watching the situation in the country very closely and are demanding the release of all Christians detained on the basis of their confession immediately.