Eritrea grants bail to 27 Christians after years in prison
Several Christians have been in prison in Eritrea for years, accused of practising faiths which are not recognised in the country
Nearly 30 Christians who have been serving jail time for many years in Eritrea have finally been released on bail by the government. Twenty-seven prisoners were set free on 3 and 8 September, having been behind bars for over ten years.
They include eight women and 19 men who were in jail at the Mai Serwa Prison, near the capital, Asmara.
They were arrested by the government for practising faiths which are not recognised in this country in the Horn of Africa.
Only four religious groups are recognised officially in Eritrea: the Christian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church and Sunni Islam.
Religious intolerance
The Eritrean government has often been criticised for its religious intolerance, though the country’s leaders have always rejected this notion.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom says several religious groups lack the legal basis to practise their faith publicly.
According to the US State Department, the estimated number of prisoners of faith in Eritrea is between 1,200 and 3,000.
Jehovah Witnesses are reportedly the most persecuted, with three of their members allegedly imprisoned for over 25 years.
Though campaigners advocate religious freedom, the Eritrean government has remained intransigent on the matter.
Support for released Christians
Meanwhile, Release International, a British-based charity which supports persecuted Christians, has welcomed the release of the prisoners.
The chief executive of the group, Paul Robinson, says the freed prisoners need all the help they can get to integrate back into society after spending so many years behind bars.
“We are encouraged by the news of the release of Christian prisoners. We hope others will follow,” he said.
“Our prayers are that this may signal a change of heart in a regime which outlawed many churches in 2002 and has been persecuting and imprisoning Christians ever since. The time has come to let these people go.
“As for the 27 Christians who have been set free from jail, they are still not free to leave Eritrea. Some have been behind bars for so long that they have become completely institutionalised. They will need help and support,” Robinson said.
E A Alanore
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