Release International

Release International has launched a petition and is calling a day of prayer on behalf of persecuted Christians in Eritrea. The Day of Prayer is May 24 2009 – Eritrea’s National Day. 

‘Imagine living as a Christian in Eritrea,’ says Release CEO Andy Dipper. ‘Your church has been closed and its assets confiscated. Every church programme has been halted. You and others are forced to meet in secret. Your pastor has been arrested, imprisoned and has disappeared. His family has fled the country.

‘This is the reality for many Christians in Eritrea. Please join our campaign to support them in prayer – and bring pressure to bear so Eritrea’s National Day becomes a day for change.’

Since 2002 the Marxist-style regime in this African nation has detained more than 2,000 Christians without trial and forced dozens of churches and Christian ministries to close. Many believers have been tortured to try to force them to renounce their faith. Some of their stories are told in the latest edition of Release magazine [attached], available from www.releaseinternational.org

Secret police routinely spy on Christians, and many leading pastors and Christian workers have been arrested. In most cases they have disappeared without trace inside Eritrea’s prison system. Relatives are often kept in the dark as to whether their loved ones are dead or alive.

The authorities have incarcerated Christians in metal shipping containers in the desert, without light or sanitation. These become like ovens by day and freezers by night. Other forms or torture are common.

Christians undergoing military service are forbidden from meeting together, from worshipping or reading a Bible. Those who refuse to renounce their faith are detained indefinitely.

Three Christians held for their faith in military jails have died in the past six months – the latest on January 16. He was 42-year-old Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom, who had been held in solitary confinement. He died from torture and diabetes. Mehari was a member of the Church of the Living God in Mendefera.

Since 2002 Eritrea has recognised only three churches: the Orthodox Church of Eritrea, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran-affiliated Evangelical Church of Eritrea. The authorities have closed down all other churches.

‘Please ask your friends and church members to sign the Release petition, which you can download from www.releaseinternational.org,’says Andy Dipper of Release. ‘Please also pray for Christians in detention, and for the many refugees now living in Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan. Pray also for change – that Eritrea will act on our petition and respect the rights of all religious groups.’

ENDS

NOTES TO THE EDITOR

The Release International Eritrea petition is available for download at: http://www.releaseinternational.org/media/Eritrea2009/EritreaPetition2009.pdf

A poster is attached to this email. For additional pictures, please send an email by return.

For a country profile on Eritrea, please go to: http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/country-profiles/eritrea.php

For further information please contact Release International on 01689 823491 or by email at info@releaseinternational.org

And for more information on Release International please go to: www.releaseinternational.org

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