Christians Protest Outside London Eritrean Embassy

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Release Eritrea and Christian Concern for Freedom of Conscience (CCFC) recently coordinated a protest outside the Eritrean Embassy, calling for an end to the continued detention of Christians and other prisoners in Eritrea.

A letter was delivered to the Eritrean Embassy during the protest, signed by CSW National Director Stuart Windsor, Director of Release Eritrea-UK Dr. Berhane Asmelash, and CCFC Director David Turner.

It urged the Eritrean Ambassador to encourage his government to release prisoners of conscience and restore basic human rights and fundamental freedoms to the Eritrean people.

Around 2,000 Christians are currently imprisoned without charge or trial for their faith in Eritrea, with many of them facing severe mistreatment, including being held in solitary confinement in metal shipping containers in the desert.

Earlier this week, the Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Abune Antonios, was forcibly evicted from his official residence and taken to an unknown location, allegedly to make way for a government-endorsed replacement. Patriarch Antonios has been held under house arrest since January 2006.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide's National Director, Stuart Windsor, said: "The increasing government interference into church affairs is just one example of the Eritrean authorities repression of their people. With so many people imprisoned in dreadful conditions simply for practising their faith, it is difficult not to be appalled.

"We are protesting today to make sure the Eritrean authorities know that we will not stand by while they continue to routinely deny the basic human rights of their people."