There was uncertainty on Tuesday, March 5, about the situation of 125 Eritrean Christians who were ‘beaten and detained’ in western Eritrea as part of a new government campaign against Christians worshipping outside the state-backed churches. At least 85 were arrested in the last week, among them are 45 who were arrested February 27 for worshipping ‘outside the Orthodox, Catholic and Evangelical Lutheran Churches'. An estimated 1,500 – 2,000 Christians remain detained for some years in prison facilities ranging from airless, hot, windowless metal shipping containers, to military prison camps. Christians are known to have died during their imprisonment. The crackdown began in 2002 when all churches except those belonging to the Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran denominations were effectively banned. Independent evangelical and charismatic churches are particularly singled out. Government policies are aimed at religious groups who are ‘duped by foreigners’ seeking to distract from and to distort the true meaning of religion.

Pray: against the harassment and detention in harsh conditions of thousands of members of registered and unregistered Christian groups. (Ps.18:16-19)

More: http://www.bosnewslife.com/26883-eritrea-jails-125-christians-in-campaign-against-illegal-worship