Eritrea: Pastors may face treason charges
Jun 10 2008
Postings >> Eritrea

The Eritrean authorities are rumoured to be planning to press formal charges of treason against several Christian pastors held without charge for the past four years.

The penalty for treason is death under this repressive regime where the only churches allowed to worship legally are Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran ones. All other Christians are considered a threat to state security.

The unconfirmed reports are reported by Compass Direct to have been a huge blow to the families of Christians detained indefinitely since 2004. Three of the most prominent pastors in jail – Haile Naizghi, Dr Kifle Gebremeskel and Tesfatsion Hagos – have been held incommunicado for four years.

And the arrests continue: on May 24 police detained 25 Christians from Adi-Kuala – after they were found praying for their nation on Eritrea's Independence Day. Four days later police arrested 34 believers from the Berhane Hiwet ('Light of Life') Church in Keren. All adults at the meeting were taken to a detention centre: all their children were left behind.

Pray for the thousands of Christians held without charge in Eritrea's notorious jails. Ask God to fill all these prisoners with His peace and hope.

Pray too for the families of these prisoners of faith.