All articles in category Eritrea
Article
September 2017
Articles > World Mission > Africa > Eritrea
Eritrean crackdown
Christians in Eritrea are experiencing an increased state crackdown, with fears that even children face a future behind bars, Release International has warned. Launching a campaign to pressurise the Eritrean government to release Christian prisoners, Release International has revealed that at least 200 Christians have been arrested in house-to-house raids, in a tough new crackdown, which is tearing children from their parents. According to Release, young children and a baby are among those arrested and it is feared they could spend their childhood in a prison cell. Security forces in Eritrea have rounded up 177 adults, along with some 20 small children. The arrests are...
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Article
March 2010
Eritrea
Eritrea’s persecuting government
Eritrea’s persecuting government When Eritrea won its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, it was widely hoped that the nation would become an example of good governance for the whole of Africa. Sadly, Eritrea is now regarded as one of the worst persecutors of Christians in the world. Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa. Its area is roughly that of England and Wales, comprising a dry, temperate plateau and hot, desert lowland along the Red Sea coastline. After 60 years of colonial rule by Italy and then Britain, in 1951 Eritrea became part of a federation with Ethiopia. Ten years...
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Article
March 2010
Eritrea
Petitioning for freedom in Eritrea
Petitioning for freedom in Eritrea Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, the patron of Release International, recently presented a petition to the Eritrean Embassy and No.10 Downing Street calling for religious freedom for Eritrean Christians imprisoned and tortured for their faith. Tens of thousands signed the petition, after a major campaign by Release which included publication of the book Song of the nightingale. This is a first-person account by gospel singer Helen Berhane, who was incarcerated in a shipping container and brutally beaten by the Eritrean authorities. The petition was handed in by Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, who resigned his post as Bishop of Rochester to speak...
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By MERF
Article
March 2010
Eritrea
A faithful church
A faithful church The Evangelical and Reformed communities in Eritrea are under much oppression and persecution, but continue to seek to be faithful to the Lord in their walk, witness and worship. Most are Tigrinya-speaking, originating from nominal Christian backgrounds. These live in the highlands. A smaller group are Arabic-speaking and based in the predominantly Muslim areas along the coast. The past five years have been difficult for the church in the capital, Asmara. Many members have been in prison, and those not in prison are doing some sort of forced labour. None get enough to eat. Eight members of the congregation have...
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