Originally written on 17-12-2004. 

Although we have noted in earlier articles that Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians have been particularly harshly targeted, nevertheless, the religious persecution has not spared Orthodox Christians either.

For example, all Christian newspapers and magazines have been banned, including the Lutheran magazine melekte Selam, the Orthodox newspaper Finote Birhan, the Catholic magazine, along with numerous others.

Moreover, towards the end of 2000, in Asmara, the government enflamed street gangs to raid gospel assembly halls within the vicinity of the Orthodox churches of St. Mary and of Holy Trinity. During the raid, hundreds of Bibles, songbooks and other spiritual literature were forcefully robbed from the churches and burned in the streets. Benches, musical instruments, doors and windows were smashed. All these church documents were turned to ashes. These acts of vandalism occurred within the direct presence of police forces. In fact, police who were present on the scene admitted that it was with the government’s own approval that the vandals had acted to bring this destruction to all "illegitimate" places of worship. In spite of this great violation of law, committed in the presence of the police, to date, in nearly four years, not a single person has been held accountable for the crime.

Since that time, many priests and church officers have been arrested and tortured for resisting the government’s intervention in the church’s internal affairs.

The following are some of these key Orthodox leaders, who have suffered imprisonment:

• Rev Gebre-Medhin Gebre-Giorgis, a theologian and a youth leader within the Orthodox church was arrested in November, 2004;
• Rev Dr. Fitsum Gebrenigus a priest and the only psychiatrist in the country is also arrested in November 2004;
• Rev. Dr. Tekleab Mengisteab, a medical doctor and a priest was arrested in November 2004.

These priests were leaders of the youth renewal movement within the Orthodox church. They were working to maintain the involvement of the thousands of Orthodox youth, providing them with a viable, Spirit-filled alternative to joining independent Pentecostal churches.