Originally written on 21-03-2005.

Release Eritrea highlights concerns over the detention and disappearance of Pastor Kidane Weldou from the streets of Asmara on Friday the 18th of March 2005. Pastor Kidane is the senior Pastor of Muluwengel (full-gospel) church in Asmara. The arrest appears to have taken place in the heart of the city (in the area near cinema Roma) where Pastor Kidane was stopped on the streets and taken into custody, the car that he was using was found abandoned in the environ. It was confirmed that throughout the weekend neither his family or the Church were informed of his whereabouts or indeed the charges that he is held under.

It is to be remembered that other senior figures of the same church have been in custody almost 11 months to the date of this latest arrest. Release Eritrea is concerned for the safety of all the detainees and appeals on Eritreans and friends of Eritrea and international community to highlight these issues on behalf of the persecuted church of Eritrea. In a statement Dr Berhane Asmelash co-ordinator of Release-Eritrea stated; ‘I am saddened to see yet another arrest, which makes it clear that far from relenting on this the Government of Eritrea is intensifying the purge, I hope all Eritreans, friends of Eritrea and the international community will take this up on behalf of the voiceless Eritrean Church’

Release Eritrea has also learnt that all the Sunday school children arrested earlier this month are now released and we would like to thank all those who advocated on their behalf.