NEWS ALERT: Eritrea Evangelical Christian Dies In Prison Camp
Posted on: 2009-09-22 02:25:53
By Worthy News Africa Service
ASMARA, ERITREA (Worthy News)-- The situation of detained Christians in Eritrea has worsened, amidreports that a Christian man held in the country's notorious Wi'a Military Camp has died of meningitis,following an outbreak in the prison, Worthy News learned Tuesday September 22.
Mesfin Gebrekristos, an evangelical Christian, is the fourth known believer to have died behind barsthis year, said Open Doors, a well-informed Christian advocacy group with close ties to undergroundchurches in the African nation.
"At least seven prisoners held at Wia Military camp have died in an outbreak of meningitis beforethe government relocated the prisoners and staff to Mitire Military Concentration Camp," OpenDoors added.
Gebrekristos spent the past year imprisoned for his Evangelical faith and leaves behind a wife andtwo children, Christians said. He is also the tenth reported Christian to have died while beingincarcerated for worship outside of the state approved Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox churches.
Over 2,800 Christians remain under custody in prisons, police cells, military camps and labor campsacross Eritrea "for their faith in Christ", said Open Doors and other rights groups.
The government outlawed all religious activities outside of the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran andIslamic faiths in 2002, although even those groups have reported harassment of leaders.
Eritrea's government has defended its actions, saying it wants to protect the country againstdangerous sects.
On September 6 the Eritrean leadership reportedly urged citizens to report any "illegal"gatherings of Christians in their neighbourhoods, which it described as "criminal acts"deserving "to be punished by law."
- Over 2,800 Christians have been detained in Eritrea according to several estimates.
ASMARA, ERITREA (Worthy News)-- The situation of detained Christians in Eritrea has worsened, amidreports that a Christian man held in the country's notorious Wi'a Military Camp has died of meningitis,following an outbreak in the prison, Worthy News learned Tuesday September 22.
Mesfin Gebrekristos, an evangelical Christian, is the fourth known believer to have died behind barsthis year, said Open Doors, a well-informed Christian advocacy group with close ties to undergroundchurches in the African nation.
"At least seven prisoners held at Wia Military camp have died in an outbreak of meningitis beforethe government relocated the prisoners and staff to Mitire Military Concentration Camp," OpenDoors added.
Gebrekristos spent the past year imprisoned for his Evangelical faith and leaves behind a wife andtwo children, Christians said. He is also the tenth reported Christian to have died while beingincarcerated for worship outside of the state approved Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox churches.
Over 2,800 Christians remain under custody in prisons, police cells, military camps and labor campsacross Eritrea "for their faith in Christ", said Open Doors and other rights groups.
The government outlawed all religious activities outside of the Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran andIslamic faiths in 2002, although even those groups have reported harassment of leaders.
Eritrea's government has defended its actions, saying it wants to protect the country againstdangerous sects.
On September 6 the Eritrean leadership reportedly urged citizens to report any "illegal"gatherings of Christians in their neighbourhoods, which it described as "criminal acts"deserving "to be punished by law."
Increase
Decrease