Eritrea has banned many churches and aggressively persecutes Christians. More than 2,000 are behind bars - some in underground cells or crammed in shipping containers in the heat of the desert.

 

Seven organisations will be gathering to pray and present a letter to the Embassy calling for religious freedom in Eritrea. The vigil takes place from 3 – 4pm outside the Embassy, at 96 White Lion Street, London, close to the Angel tube station. Anyone wishing to take part should gather at 2.30pm.

 

The letter will be signed and presented by the head of the British Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Seraphim of Glastonbury. It calls for: ‘full religious freedom and the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience in Eritrea.’

 

The other organisations taking part in the vigil are: Church in Chains (Ireland), Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Release International, Human Rights Concern-Eritrea and Release Eritrea.

 

The vigil will focus on prisoners, the Church, the government and refugees. It will feature prayers, praise, bible readings and a brief address on each aspect of persecution in that country.

 

Former prisoner Dr Berhane Asmelash, who was tortured and jailed for almost a year in Eritrea, is to accompany the Orthodox Church leader when he hands the letter into the Embassy.

 

Rev Asmelash, who is now a Church of England curate, was jailed without trial. Like others, he endured torture. His captors called it ‘Torture method number eight.’

 

‘They put a log under my knees, lifted the log and overturned me - my head was down and my feet were up. And they beat my feet,’ he said, adding: ‘Many Christians have lost their lives because of starvation and torture.’

 

Eritrea allows limited freedom to only a few traditional faiths. Tens of thousands of Eritreans have fled the single-party regime, risking minefields, crocodile-infested rivers and armed border guards to escape to neighbouring Ethiopia, Sudan and Yemen.

 

A video report of the vigil will be posted to YouTube.

 

 

For more information, please contact David Turner of Church in Chains on 00 353 1 282 5393 or 00 353 86 345 1972