The Bishop of Woolwich, Christopher Chessun, joined the head of the British Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Seraphim of Glastonbury, in presenting a letter to the Embassy calling for imprisoned Christians to be set free. At least 12 have died behind bars.

 

Among the delegation was Dr Berhane Asmelash, an Eritrean refugee who has been imprisoned and tortured in Eritrea. Dr Berhane, who is now a Church of England curate, said: ‘Many Eritrean Christians have lost their lives because of starvation and torture.’

 

The letter was handed in at the culmination of a prayer vigil calling for religious freedom in Eritrea. Eritrea has banned most religious organisations and aggressively persecutes Christians. More than 2,000 are behind bars - some kept in airless shipping containers in the heat of the desert, others in underground cells.

 

Seven organisations stood together in solidarity outside the Embassy. They were: the British Orthodox Church, Church in Chains (Ireland), Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Release International, Human Rights Concern - Eritrea and Release Eritrea.

 

Organiser David Turner of Church in Chains said: ‘We were reminded that the Berlin wall had fallen, apartheid had ended, and that this injustice, too, would end. Love conquers hate, light conquers darkness, hope conquers fear.

 

‘Standing there with Eritreans whose family members were behind bars, reinforced for me the reality of the persecution faced in that country. We must and will continue to stand in solidarity until this great injustice comes to an end.’

 

Thousands have fled their country, risking minefields, crocodile-infested rivers and armed border guards to escape to neighbouring Sudan, Ethiopia and Yemen.

 

A video report of the vigil will be posted to YouTube. The full text of the letter presented to the Embassy is given below.

 

 

 

Text of the letter handed in to the Eritrean Embassy on June 3:

 

H.E. Mr. Tesfamichael Gerahtu

Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland

Embassy of the State of Eritrea

 

3 June 2010

 

Your Excellency,

 

We, the undersigned, representing thousands of Christians in Britain and Ireland, have gathered today to mark the eighth anniversary of the forced closure of all churches in Eritrea, apart from those belonging to the Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran traditions.

 

Standing in solidarity with fellow Christians in Eritrea, we renew our call for the granting of full religious freedom and the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience in Eritrea.

 

We are dismayed at the continuing imprisonment without charge or trial of thousands of Christians, arrested solely on account of their faith. We are also deeply troubled at the increasing harassment of authorised churches, as illustrated by the illegal dismissal and indefinite detention of Abune Antonios, the canonically ordained Orthodox patriarch.

 

Credible reports continue to emerge of detained Christians being physically and mentally abused, and deprived of access to adequate food, potable water and medication. We are aware that over a dozen have died following mistreatment and/or denial of medical attention, and are particularly concerned at the practice of requiring prisoners to sign statements renouncing their faith as a prerequisite to obtaining their freedom. 

 

We assure you again that these Christians do not represent a threat to the government in the peaceful practice of their faith. Indeed, we believe that the teachings of their faith should serve to make them good citizens, benefiting Eritrean society as a whole.

 

Once again, we ask that you convey to your government our appeal for swift and positive action to ensure the release of all prisoners of conscience and to grant full religious freedom, as guaranteed under Eritrea’s commendable Constitution.

 

In closing, we would like to assure you of our continued prayers for God’s blessing on your people and your nation.

 

Yours respectfully, 

 

The British Orthodox Church; Christian Solidarity Worldwide; Church in Chains Ireland; Human Rights Concern – Eritrea; Open Doors; Release Eritrea; Release International

 

For more information, please contact David Turner of Church in Chains on 00 353 1 282 5393 or 00 353 86 345 1972 or Release International on 01689 823491 or by email at info@releaseinternational.org