Release International

Another Christian prisoner of faith has died in an Eritrean prison after his guards refused him medicine – the third Christian to have died in the same jail this year.

Yemane Kahasay Andom, who was 43, died at the Mitire Military Confinement Centre in north-east Eritrea on July 23 and was secretly buried inside the camp, it has emerged. He had been tortured brutally and continuously in an attempt to make him deny Christ, according to religious rights charity Open Doors. Yemane refused.

Yemane, a member of the Kale Hiwot church in Mendefera, was suffering from a severe case of malaria – after being weakened by torture. He had reportedly been held in solitary confinement in an underground cell for the fortnight leading up to his death.

Two other Christians – Mogos Hagos Kiflom and Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom – died at Mitire camp in January. They had both been tortured.

A total of nine Christians are known to have died in custody in Eritrea since October 2006. Open Doors reports that Christian prisoners of faith from across Eritrea have been transferred to Mitire. The charity also says that 70 Christians – including 11 women jailed for failing to complete their military service – were suddenly released from Mitire without explanation on April 17.

(Sources: Compass Direct, Open Doors)

• Pray for Yemane's family. Thank God for his determination not to deny Christ.
• Pray that the Eritrean Government will end its repressive policy which bans all churches except the Orthodox, Lutheran and Roman Catholic denominations.

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