Originally written on 17-02-2005.

Release Eritrea renews its invitation for the international community, Eritreans and friends of Eritrea to call upon President Isaias Afwerki and the Government of Eritrea to stop the gross human rights abuse that is being waged against Eritrean Christians.

In what feels like an enhanced vigour to oust independent churches, since the advent of 2005, hundreds of Christians across the country have been detained by authorities claiming the various meetings, including home prayers, wedding rehearsals and weddings, were ‘illegal’.

In the last three weeks Eritrean believers have been subjected to severe controls over their activities and movements, forcing many to abandon their home churches as those found praying at home were being routinely arrested and harassed.

Sources from Asmara indicate that the total number of civilians arrested since the beginning of 2005 is estimated to be around the mark of 200. over the last couple of weeks two groups, (in the maichehot area of Asmara and in Debarwa) of people found praying together were arrested it is estimated that there were up to thirty believers in each group. In a separate incident a father of three was arrested with his children from their family home all three children were under the age of eighteen. In an email believers from Asmara indicated that; ‘all the christians who are not yet arrested are praying about their brothers, but they are also preparing themselves for the final blow.