Prayer vigil for Christian freedom in Eritrea
Christian human rights campaigners from a range of organisations are uniting to stage a prayer vigil on May 26 outside the Eritrean Embassy in London. They're pressing for freedom for Christians who are persecuted and jailed for their faith in Eritrea.
Eritrea has banned many churches and imprisoned around 1,500 Christians - some in underground cells or packed together in shipping containers in the desert heat.
Many are detained without trial. Refugees describe torture and abuse. Former prisoner Dr Berhane Asmelash says he was tortured using 'Method Number Eight’.
‘They put a log under my knees, lifted the log and overturned me. They beat my feet. Many Christians have lost their lives because of starvation and torture.’
The single-party regime in Eritrea allows limited religious freedom to only a handful of traditional faiths. Many thousands have risked minefields, rivers with crocodiles and armed border guards to escape to neighbouring countries.
Eight organisations are coming together this week to pray and present a letter to the Embassy calling for religious freedom. The vigil takes place from 3.30 - 4.30pm outside the Eritrean Embassy, at 96 White Lion Street, London, close to the Angel tube station. People wishing to take part should gather at 3.15.
The organisations staging the vigil are: the British Orthodox Church, Release International, Church in Chains (Ireland), Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Evangelical Alliance, Human Rights Concern-Eritrea and Release Eritrea.
The vigil will continue in prayer from at the Ethiopian Church (ECFC-UK), Pentonville Road, London N1 9NG. The prayer event begins at 6pm, with doors opening at 4.30pm.
Release is supporting families of prisoners and providing practical support for Christian refugees who have fled persecution and escaped to Ethiopia. This includes helping them set up businesses.
For the Release Eritrea country profile click here.