Eritrean social media sources have confirmed that Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim and Fr. Mihreteab Stefanos have been released from detention on December 28th 2022. The Bishop and the Priest were arrested on October 15th 2022. Bishop Fikremariam was serving at St Michael's Parish of Segheneity.

Bishop Fikremariam and three other bishops wrote a pastoral letter that was titled 'Where is your brother?'. The address was to all Eritreans who were leaving the country and who have been victims of human trafficking and abuse at the hands of their assailants. The letter was also addressed to the Eritrean authorities, challenging them to do their governmental duties in looking after their own people. This was regarded by the Eritrean regime as an insult to its authority. Since then all the Catholic priests, nuns and bishop were under close Eritrean security surveillance. Their schools, clinics and other mission activities were shut down by a direct order of the government. 

Eritrea is known for restricting all religious activities since May 2002. Since then hundreds of  pastors, gospel singers, priests and bishops have been arrested. Initially the government seemed to target some protestant denominations, but after the detention of the Orthodox Patriarch, the persecution expanded to Orthodox and Catholic monks and priests. In 2004, three Orthodox priests, Dr Fitsum Gebrenigus, Dr Tekleab Mengisteab and Rev Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis were arrested. 18 years, later three of them are still in prison. While in prison, Dr. Fitsum lost his wife from cancer. This year Father Gebremedhin has also lost his wife because of cancer. Both of them had no permission to attend their wives’ funerals. Some senior Pentecostal pastors; Dr Kiflu Genremeskel, Rev Haile Niazgi. Mr Million Gebresilassie were arrested in May 2004 and still remain in prison. Pastor Kidane Weldu was arrested in 2005 and Pastor Mussie Ezaz was arrested in September 2007. All remain in prison as of this article’s release.

Although the release of Bishop Fikremariam is good news, the general situation of faith groups in Eritrea remains the same. In October, 150 Christians where arrested after Eritrean security raided their house church. Some of them have been released since but 98 of them were still in prison when this article was written. Now there are still hundreds of Christian believers who are suffering in the notorious Eritrean prisons. None of them have ever found justice and none of them have been officially charged of any crime. 

We ask all Christian friends to join us in prayer to bring peace and justice in Eritrea. The scripture encourages us to pray for those who are suffering for their faith. "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." Hebrews 13:3 (NIV).