How are Christians persecuted in Eritrea?
- The Eritrean government gives legal status to only four religious groups, excluding most Evangelical and Pentecostal denominations. There is zero tolerance for unregistered churches: those caught worshipping illegally can face brutal punishment and indefinite imprisonment in terrible conditions.
“We live in fear of who will be arrested next.”
Paulos
- “We live in fear of who will be arrested next,” shares Paulos*, an Eritrean Christian. “Will it be another brother in Christ? Will it be me? But we must continue to walk with God. We build upon what others have done before us.”
- There is intense surveillance of people suspected of belonging to unregistered churches, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty for believers.
- The Eritrean Orthodox Church and Islamic groups treat those who convert from its ranks harshly, subjecting Christians to social rejection and exclusion.
- Society is highly militarised and many are conscripted into indefinite service. Those caught worshipping whilst serving are punished severely.
Why are Christians persecuted in Eritrea?
- Leaving the Orthodox Church or any of the four recognised religions is seen as a transgression of the social order, leaving Christians vulnerable to harassment and violent treatment. “Anything done by any churches or its members seen as a threat to the absolute control currently in place will be subjected to punishment,” shares an Open Doors expert.
- The government of Eritrea is highly authoritarian, and its military a central aspect of its societal structure. This facilitates brutal treatment of believers who suggest opposition to the regime. The country is sometimes called the ‘North Korea of Africa’.
Who is particularly vulnerable in Eritrea?
- Members of non-traditional Christian groups, such as Evangelical, Pentecostal and Baptist churches, face the harshest repression. Unrecognised by the state, these groups and churches endure raids, imprisonment and systemic marginalisation.
- Many church leaders are imprisoned without trial, leaving their communities without leadership.
What has changed in Eritrea in the past year?
- Eritrea has gone up one place on the World Watch List, due to a slight increase in reported incidents of violence.
- The regime in Eritrea has been led without interruption by President Isaias Afwerki since 1993, and so there is little likelihood of the situation changing for Eritrean Christians – except by God’s intervention.
How can I help Christians in Eritrea?
Please keep praying for your church family in Eritrea. Your prayers are making a huge difference to those experiencing harsh persecution for Jesus.
Open Doors works through strategic partnerships and local church networks in Eritrea to provide persecution survival training and discipleship.
Father God, it’s difficult to know how to even begin to pray for Christians in Eritrea. It’s been such a difficult place to follow You for so long, and yet, we trust that Your plans will not fail as You’ve promised in Your Word. Bring a sense of hope and understanding to Christians in Eritrea, that they may be filled anew with Your life-giving Spirit. Provide joy where there is sorrow, hope where there is despair and light where there is darkness. We pray this in Jesus’s name, Amen.
