Written by: Tim, Open Doors Team
Article source: www.opendoorsuk.org
Open Doors UK & Ireland has joined with other charities to call for the immediate release of seven pastors in Eritrea who have been imprisoned for 21 years.
This campaign was launched on Friday, 22 August, which was UN International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, and is being done in collaboration with Voices 4 Justice, a new consortium of charities from different countries aimed at highlighting specific violations of religious freedom.
21 years of suffering
For more than 20 years, Eritrea’s autocratic regime only recognises three Christian denominations – Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran. Those who seek to express their faith outside these groups risk raids, fines and imprisonment in deplorable conditions. The country – often called the ‘North Korea of Africa’ – is infamous for holding some prisoners in shipping containers. Even those part of the three recognised groups can experience hostility. The persecution facing many Christians is extreme – and that’s why Eritrea is sixth on the World Watch List.
“Eritrean church leaders – the Rev. Haile Naizge, Dr Kuflu Gebremeskel, Rev. Million Gebreselassie, Dr Futsum Gebrenegus, Rev. Dr Tekleab Menghisteab, Rev. Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis, Rev. Pastor Kidane Weldou – have been detained arbitrarily for at least 20 years,” says Tiffany Barrens, Open Doors’ International Global Advocacy Director.
“Not one has been charged or brought before a court,” she continues. “They have had no legal representation, and their families have not been permitted to visit them. Their plight epitomises the suffering of thousands of prisoners of conscience currently held without charge or trial in Eritrea. We are calling for their immediate release.”
Why are the pastors being held?
The seven church leaders – who were arrested in morning raids, at police checkpoints, or picked up off the street – are believed to be held incommunicado in Wengel Mermera Criminal Investigation Centre, a dungeon-like maximum security prison in the capital Asmara. Since being detained, some of their family members have died, while others have been forced to flee the country.
Among the seven are three Orthodox priests – and that’s despite the Orthodox Church being recognised by the authorities. Dr Futsum Gebrenegus, Rev. Dr Tekleab Menghisteab and Rev. Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis were all involved in a renewal movement within the denomination. This was unpopular with the government, who ordered the then-Orthodox patriarch to put an end to the movement and excommunicate its 3,000 members. The patriarch’s refusal to do so, and his stance against further government interference, led to his removal from office and house arrest.
The specific reasons for the arrests of the other pastors are unclear. However, according to one country expert, the government views churches – especially Orthodox and Protestant – churches ‘as a hindrance to the new national identity the ruling group wants to create in the country’.
“Anything done by any churches or its members seen as a threat to the absolute control currently in place will be subjected to punishment,” he added.
Nighttime raids
Voices 4 Justice held a peaceful protest on 21 August outside the Eritrean Embassy in London, where demonstrators handed in a letter to the Embassy.
According to research by Open Doors, over 120 Christians were detained without any charges between January and May 2024. On 24 April 2024, in the towns of Agordat, Barentu and Teseney in western and central Eritrea, over 35 Christians were arrested at their homes during coordinated nighttime raids.
Please pray into this campaign, and for all Christians who suffer so much at the hands of a regime that wants to stifle their right to believe. Thank you.
- That the campaign will compel the Eritrean authorities to immediately release the seven pastors
- For the campaign’s wider impact, that it will prompt among the authorities a greater respect of religious freedom in Eritrea
- For the physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all imprisoned believers, for their imminent release, and for their families to be sustained by God’s grace.
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
> Please support Christian media and journalism in South Africa. Help us to spread the Word of God and take a stand for the truth by making a donation to our ministry. We appreciate your support. Click here to take hands with JOY! Magazine.
Date published: 03/09/2025
Feature image: The pastors from left to right: Rev. Dr Tekleab Menghisteab, Rev. Million Gebreselassie, Rev. Pastor Kidane Weldou, Rev. Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis, Dr Kuflu Gebremeskel, Dr Futsum Gebrenegus and Rev. Haile Naizge
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
