Eritrea: Release calls Christians to pray for repressive African regime

Release is calling on Christians to join in an international day of prayer for Eritrea – a nation recently branded a 'giant prison' by human rights campaigners.

We are urging churches worldwide to intercede for this Horn of Africa nation on Sunday, May 24, and to collect signatures for our petition which calls on the Eritrean authorities to allow greater religious liberty.

Human Rights Watch recently criticised Eritrea for its use of military conscription, the forcible repatriation of Eritrean refugees abroad and the arbitrary detention of its citizens, including Christians. It is urging other nations not to send back Eritrean asylum-seekers.

Since 2002, the Eritrean government has recognised only three church denominations: the Orthodox Church of Eritrea, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran-affiliated Evangelical Church. All others are banned.

(Sources: BBC, Human Rights Watch, Release International)

• Act: please encourage your church to get involved in Release's day of prayer for Eritrea on May 24. Our 31-day prayer special (included in the current Prayer Shield  or available from our office) has lots of prayer ideas. Please email this link www.releaseinternational.org/current to friends who can sign our petition online and download a paper copy to collect signatures at church.

• Pray: pray for the thousands of Christians detained arbitrarily in Eritrea – often in inhumane conditions. Pray for their guards and for the Eritrean authorities who head up such a repressive regime. Pray for God's mercy over the entire nation.