Proclaim 'Release!' for Eritrea

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed."

- Isaiah 61: 1

Image of a chains wrapped around a hand

People praying in a church in Ethiopia

What Is Release Eritrea?

Release Eritrea is a global partnership of Eritrean Evangelicals standing in solidarity with the persecuted Eritrean church.

On May 22 2002, the PFDJ (the ruling party of Eritrea) ordered the closure of all churches not belonging to the Orthodox, Roman Catholic or Evangelical Lutheran denominations.

On several occasions since then the Eritrean government issued blanket denials of the existence of persecution in the country stating that 'no groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion' and that people were 'free to worship according to their wish'.

The unitary one-party presidential republic's human rights record is considered by Human Rights Watch to be among the worst in the world.


Press Releases

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Archive: Eritrean Security Forces Raid Church Offices and Detain Several Office Workers

Author: Release Eritrea

Release Eritrea has been informed of coordinated Church office raids and the subsequent arrest of several office staff from at least two church offices.

Posted on April 20, 2023, 7:01 p.m.

Archive: Church Persecution Spreads in Eritrea — The Catholic Church Fears Targeting

Author: Release Eritrea

As Church persecution spreads in Eritrea the Catholic Church of Eritrea outlined its concerns over both being targeted for persecution.

Posted on April 20, 2023, 7:01 p.m.

Archive: The Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Eritrea Becomes the Latest Target for Persecution

Author: Release Eritrea

Release Eritrea strongly denounces the striping of Abuna Antonios’( the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Eritrea) Patriarchal authority.

Posted on April 20, 2023, 6:58 p.m.

Archive: Eritrean Christian Prisoners at a Desert Detention Camp

Author: Release Eritrea

A number of Christian Prisoners of conscience have been transported to the desert detention camp in Wea.

Posted on April 20, 2023, 6:57 p.m.

Archive: Eritrean Security Forces Detain 18 College Students and a University Lecturer for their Faith

Author: Release Eritrea

Eritrean security forces have detained 18 college students, all evangelical Christians.

Posted on April 20, 2023, 6:56 p.m.

Archive: Eritrean Security Forces Detain 80 Christian Students at an End of Term Party

Author: Release Eritrea

Sources in Asmara have alerted Release Eritrea that security forces in the city have stormed and detained around 80 high school students at an end of term party.

Posted on April 20, 2023, 6:55 p.m.

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