Originally written on 17-12-2004.

 The Eritrean Popular Liberation Front (EPLF) has become well known, since its inception in the early 1970s, for its hostility towards any practicing religious group. Evangelicals and Pentecostals, in particular, have been primary targets of the EPLF movement, which conveniently but innacurately identifies them as "Western-sponsored religions."

As an example of this long-established and rooted hostility, in their 2nd National Assembly, in 1977, the EPLF decreed a new religious law, which read as follows:

Respect Freedom of Religion and Faith

• Safeguard every citizen’s freedom of religion and belief.
• Completely separate religion from the state and politics.
• Separate religion from education and allow no compulsory religious education.
• Strictly oppose all the imperialist-created new counter-revolutionary faiths, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pentecostals, Bahai, etc.
• Legally punish those who try to sow discord in the struggle and undermine the progress of the Eritrean people on the basis of religion whether in the course of the armed struggle or in a people’s democratic Eritrea.”

Although the full implementation of this religious policy was held pending until it's official execution in May 2002, during the intervening period, both before and after independence, it has continually been the government’s policy to discourage any religious activities in Eritrea.

Consequently, Evangelicals have long been prevented from constructing church buildings or opening theological learning centres; numerous committed Evangelicals have been harassed, imprisoned and tortured and particularly harsh measures have been taken (unofficially) against all committed Christian believers in the Eritrean Military Service.