Release International

But hundreds of other Christians remain in detention after Eritrea’s worst ever crackdown against believers

A pastor who endured such hardship that he was driven to nervous breakdown rather than renounce his faith has finally been released. Pastor Oqbamichel Haimanot was conducting a wedding, when Eritrean security forces burst in and arrested him along with the bride and groom and more than 60 guests. Meanwhile 200 other Christians – rounded up in the worst ever crackdown against believers – remain in detention.

Police arrested Pastor Oqbamichel Haimanot of the Kale Hiwot Church as he was conducting the service. Along with the pastor, they seized the bride and groom and wedding guests – including children. They ordered Pastor Haimanot to sign papers renouncing his faith. When he refused they threw him into solitary confinement and subjected him to such harsh physical and emotional abuse that they drove him to a nervous breakdown.

The Eritrean authorities have launched a major crackdown against evangelical Christians. They rounded up and captured more than 200 believers in the capital Asmara – in the worst case of persecution in Eritrea to date. The prisoners include several single mothers who have been separated from their children.

Security police moved into workplaces and homes and shut down the development arm of the Eritrean Kale Hiwot (Word of Life) Church. Their action has forced the closure of an extensive emergency aid and feeding programme, an orphanage caring for several hundred children, primary schools and pre-school facilities.

The persecution has been condemned by Release International, which serves the persecuted church in 30 nations. A spokesman said: ‘President Isaias Afewerki appears to be set on systematically destroying evangelical, charismatic and Pentecostal churches. Please pray that the latest round of prisoners will be released and that the authorities will honour their international pledges to allow freedom of religion for all Eritreans.’

Eritrea is among the first countries to have sanctions applied under the US religious freedom law. The Secretary of State has banned the commercial export of some defence items.

Until 2002 there was relative religious freedom in Eritrea. But in May that year the Government announced the immediate closure of all churches other than Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Lutheran. Since then, they have arrested hundreds of evangelical Christians for practising what officials are calling ‘a new religion’. And on October 6 the only Anglican priest in Eritrea was ordered out of the country. Rev Nelson Fernandez of St George’s Episcopal Church in Asmara, received a telephone call telling him to leave.

Hundreds of believers remain in detention in often deplorable conditions. Evangelicals have allegedly been rounded up and locked in metal shipping containers in the searing heat without any toilet facilities.

One Christian died from the abuse he received in jail. Kelati Awalom, of the Rhema Church, was arrested for a third time in March 2004 and detained for three months, along with two of his daughters. According to reports, he was beaten until he was partially paralyzed. After his release, he died at his home on July 24 2005 from the effects of his beatings.

Even children are not exempt from persecution. On February 19 2005, 131 children between the ages of two and 18 were rounded up and taken to a police station for questioning.

In the hall at the police station, the children began to sing: ‘I am not afraid of persecution, hardships and even death. Nobody can separate me from the love of Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and he gave me new life.’ Some were beaten and those over 15 were transferred to another police station.

Despite this open persecution, the government continues to state that ‘no groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion’.

Back to top