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(Asmara 09-02-2013) A group of 30 believers from Philadelphia Church in the suburbs of Asmara known as Mai- Temenai were taken to prison after their respective houses were raided and some were found to be praying together.

These arrests follow an earlier wave of arrests of another group of 20 believers who were arrested following a targeting surveillance by security officers earlier this month. The latest arrests have brought the number of recent victims of religious persecution to around 50 believers in one month. All the recent victims are reported to being held at the notorious Karsheli prison in the compounds of the 2nd police station.


One of the prisoners is an 85 year old grandmother, who was founding hosting a bible study meeting in her house. Mrs Hajer Yohans a resident of Akriya in Asmara is renowned for her hospitality and love.  Speaking of the arrests Rev Dr Berhane Asmelash director of Release Eritrea said: ‘it looks like we are in the midst of a renewed campaign of raids and arrests and it is worrying that not even the elderly and frail are spared this time, I pray that God will bring all this to an end soon’  .

Release Eritrea will continue to monitor the situation and report any updates and calls on all Eritreans and friends of Eritrea to pray, support and advocate on behalf of these and all other prisoners in Eritrea.

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New and targeted wave of arrests against underground church leaders

(Asmara 24-01-2013) news coming out of Eritrea confirms that the government has started a renewed and targeted imprisonment of Underground Church Leaders. So far over 20, leaders from various churches including Mesrete kiristos and mulu wongel  (Mennonite, Full-Gospel) have been arrested over a  few days period starting Thursday 17th of Jan 2013.

The arrests which took place from the respective residences of those detained, were well orchestrated and meticulously planned following what must have been a concerted period of spying on the church leaders and their activities.

The situation is causing concern to the entire believer’s community as it represents a renewed threat.

Just before the New Year the government deliberately spread rumours of mass releases that generated a sense hope amongst Eritrean Christians inside the country and in the diaspora; however in the event the government released only 36 Christian prisoners of faith, mainly college students who were arrested for refusing to take part in an Independence Day. Celebration in May 2006. Meanwhile a New Year’s prayer event was disrupted and 12 people were arrested in Dekemhare (some 24 miles south of Asmara) and only one has been released from that group.

 

(Asmara 02-12-2011) An Eritrean evangelist, deported from Saudi Arabia escaping death penalty for preaching Christianity outside a local mosque in Jeddah. 

 

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Egypt Deported 150 Eritrean Refugees

CAIRO (20-10-2011) : Authorities in Egypt have over the last few days deported 150 Eritrean refugees back to Eritrea. A group of 70 was deported on Thursday 13th of October, followed by another group of 52 soon after that date. On the 19th of October a group comprising 31 was forcibly returned to Eritrea.

The refugees are rounded up from various prisons around the country where they had been held for periods ranging from few moths to several years, after they were caught attempting to cross the boarder over to Israel via Sinai. Many would have paid thousands of dollars to traffickers and smugglers.

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