Press Release.

ICFC/1015/09

Monday, 7 December 2009

New Wave of Arrest in Eritrea

ICFC has learned from sources in Asmara that the government of Eritrea has

of late unleashed another wave of arrests against Christians. On Saturday,

December 5, 2009 at 4:00pm, one group of thirty women were rounded up in

Asmara by security agents and hauled off to prison.

Multiple sources confirm that the women were mostly elderly and were praying

together when they were arrested. Most of the women were believers of

Faith Mission, an Evangelical Church with a Methodist background. The

denomination has been in existence since the early 1950s. Until it was

closed down along with many other churches in May 2002, it operated

orphanages and several schools throughout Eritrea.

The Eritrean government is known for its policy of religious repression.

As a consequence, the US State Department has designated the Marxist

nation as one of eight Countries of Particular Concern' (CPC). At the

moment, the United Nations is considering sanctions against it.

ICFC once again calls on the government of Eritrea that these and the

thousands of other Eritreans who are languishing in prison for their faith

be immediately released.

D. Amine,

Communications Directory, ICFC

"Remember those who are in prison,

as if you were their fellow prisoner.

Remember those who are suffering

as if you were suffering with them..."

(Heb. 13:3).

www.InChainsForChrist.org

(Voice of the Persecuted Church in Eritrea)

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At this time we do not have any further news or information.