More Evangelicals in Eritrea Arrested

Eritrea, located in Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, has previously been reported to be one of the world's most serious abusers of religious liberty and persecutors of Christians. Amid a series of persecution on evangelical Christians in recent times, three more evangelical Christians have been detained in Eritrea, reported the Voice of the Martyrs yesterday.

This has been the second crackdown on Christians since the New Year. The police arrested sixty members of the Rema Charismatic Church in the Eritrean capital of Asmara on 31st December as they celebrated the New Year in the home of the church’s pastor.

This time, Eritrean authorities detained youth pastor Abraham Belay and Fanieal Tesfa Mariam of the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea while the reason behind is unknown.

"Please remember to pray for these believers and their families during this time," VOM stated.

Furthermore, the persecution watchdog group VOM said that it would continue to monitor the situation and release more details as they become available.

According to VOM, there are now over 550 known Christians in detention in Eritrea because of their Christian activities.

The World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) in a religious prayer bulletin released on 12th January stated, "More than 400 believers of all ages are presently incarcerated under the most appalling conditions: in solitary cells, in secret prisons for the 'disappeared', and in overcrowded metal shipping containers that are plagued by infectious diseases such as diarrhea. The authorities also use torture, trying to make them renounce their evangelical faith."

In addition, Eritrea was designated last year by the U.S. State Department as a 'Country of Particular Concern'.