Eritrea steps up persecution of Christians

According to a release from International Christian Concern (ICC), an advocacy group based in Washington DC, Eritrean government officials arrested 11 Christians on October 20 and took them to parts unknown. Christians were rounded up  from cities of Mendefera, Dekemharre and Dibarwa following an order given by Mustafa Nurhussein, the governor of the Southern Zone (province) of Eritrea. The governor ordered a crackdown on Christians living in his province.

The security officials also confiscated televisions, video players and other electronic equipment that belonged to the Christians.

Most of the detained belong to the Full Gospel Church, an evangelical church that was among those that were banned by Eritrean officials in 2002. Eritrea only recognizes four religious groups: Islam, the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Evangelical Church of Eritrea.

Members of the officially recognized churches have not escaped persecution. In May 2007, Eritrean officials deposed Abune Antonios, patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church and put him under house arrest. The patriarch and several other members of the church still remain in custody.

The communist government officials of Eritrea have detained more than three thousand Christians, keeping them under inhumane conditions. The Christians are imprisoned in metal shipping containers, military barracks and underground dungeons. Many persons have died, or have simply disappeared, into the Eritrean gulag.

Posted by farajat on Oct 28 2010 Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry