Christian Prisoners in Eritrea

On Thursday, August 21, a small but mighty contingency flanked the Embassy of Eritrea in Washington, DC. The following day was the United Nations International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, so it was a very appropriate day to demonstrate at the embassy of this Horn of Africa nation on behalf of Christians imprisoned for nothing but their faith in Jesus Christ. In particular, our group was protesting the twenty year imprisonment of seven pastors in what is called “The North Korea of Africa.”

As Katartismos Global Director of Advocacy, I joined with Jubilee Campaign USA, 21Wilberforce, Christian Freedom International and other concerned individuals such as Scott Morgan from Confused Eagle and two Eritrean-born gentlemen who traveled all the way from Delaware to join us in the Religious Liberty Partnership’s initiative #Voices4Justice call to “Release the Seven!”

The Reverend Gebremedhim Gebregiorgis; Dr. Tekleab Menghisteab; Dr. Kuflu Gebremeskel; Pastor Haile Nezge; and Dr. Futsum Gebrenegus have been imprisoned since 2004. The Reverend Kidane Weldou and Rev. Meron Gebreselassie have been imprisoned since 2005. And these are the outrageous details of their imprisonment:

• They have been imprisoned for 20+ years with no charges
• They have not been brought before a court
• They have no legal representation
• They have not been allowed to see their families

The hard line on Protestant evangelicals and Pentecostals (Pentes) began with tension when the Eritrean Orthodox Church became concerned that growing numbers of young people were leaving for Pente churches. They deemed these churches “heretical” and accused them of causing “instability.”

In response, in 2002 the Eritrean government closed all but Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Lutheran-affiliated Evangelical Church of Eritrea churches, and mosques (but even that changed under the tyranny of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki). The government issued a decree requiring registration by all others. And no attempts at such registration were successful.

Even family prayer, home worship services and Bible studies, Christian weddings, and wedding rehearsal dinners became reason for arrest. Eritrea became a large-scale persecutor of Christians, with so many arrested that metal shipping containers became desert prisons — as well as a further form of torture.

I participated in a demonstration on behalf of these pastors and hundreds of other persecuted Eritrean Christians at this same embassy twenty years ago! Who could have believed that they would still be in prison — held against Eritrea’s own laws which stipulate that prisoners should be charged with their offenses within 48 hours of their arrest! With my rudimentary mathematical skills, I calculate that Eritrea has missed this deadline by over 175,200 hours now!

Back to last month’s demonstration. In addition to prayers, speeches, chants, and the welcome protection of a member of the Uniformed Division of the Secret Service to keep the Embassy from harassing us, our group had a letter for the ambassador signed by over 50 organizations and individuals. As reported by journalist Ryan Foley from The Christian Post, who covered our demonstration, the Embassy refused to accept the letter! Instead, we have mailed it to them.

It might be good for His Excellency Berhane G. Solomon, Charge D’Affaires at the Eritrean Embassy, to receive many letters from concerned Americans who care about their persecuted brothers and sisters in his country. If you would like to reach out on behalf of Eritrean Christians:

Berhane G. Solomon, Chargé d’Affaires
Embassy of the State of Eritrea in the USA
1708 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009

It would also be good for Secretary of State Marco Rubio to receive letters and petitions from concerned Americans urging the Department of State to pressure Eritrea on its abysmal lack of religious freedom. But perhaps even better would be to contact your own U.S. Senators and urge them to quickly confirm the appointment of President Trump’s nominee to be the next Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, former U.S. Representative Mark Walker (NC). This will be a key priority for the IRF Ambassador.

Email to State Department
Contact your Senators

If enough pressure is put on Eritrea — along with a lot of prayer — it is our hope and prayer that Eritrea will not only “release the seven” or even release all Christians unjustly imprisoned for their faith, but also open the nation to true religious freedom.