Originally written on 13-04-2005.

Release Eritrea welcomes further indications that more minority churches may be authorised and operational shortly. Speaking to AFP on the 11th of April Eritrean Information Minister Mr Ali Abdu confirmed that the authorization of the seventh Day Adventist Church is in it’s final stages and also said ; "Other groups have asked for an authorisation and I'm sure they'll be given it when the administrative procedure is finished,"

This is a welcome move by the Eritrean Government which persistently denied the banning of any church and the persecution of many Christians including a number of religious leaders who have been imprisoned incommunicado for nearly a year now.

The pledge of tolerance made by Mr Abdu who said "We tolerate everything except intolerance," is what release Eritrea and many other human rights organisations have been calling for. The Stance is a move away from that which was outlined by President Isayas in march last year indicating that the closed churches and the religious groups they represent are no longer tolerated in Eritrea.

In a statement Dr Berhane Asmelash –director of Release Eritrea said “ I welcome the statements and await the authorisation of all the Churches that have been subjected to utter abuse of basic rights. The damage that is being done to the culture of tolerance in Eritrea should indeed be curbed, I look forward to the day I worship freely with my congregation in Eritrea”.