Originally written on 06-12-2004. 

Amidst growing concern for the safety of yet more church leaders imprisoned on the 18th of Nov, release Eritrea denounces the abuse of basic human rights of Eritrean brethren.

It is to be remembered that all Eritrean Churches not belonging to the Eritrean Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran denominations were illegally shut and their members banned from public worship since May 2002.

As the curb intensifies with leaders of the Orthodox Renewal Movement being targeted, Release Eritrea welcomes the call on the international community to take swift action against severe violators of religious persecution.

In a statement given by Dr. Berhane Asmelash, Co-ordinator of Release Eritrea stated that, ‘with yet more reports of imprisonment of Eritrean Christians, the government of Eritrea has indicated to the international community that it is not prepared to adhere to international agreements for respecting basic human rights of its people, it is time the international community responded with indications that it is not prepared to condone such behaviour’.