Source: Global Christian Relief, June 22, 2024
Three persecuted pastors in Eritrea, an East African country notorious for imprisoning Christians, recently marked a tragic anniversary: the 20th anniversary of their arrest and incarceration.
Despite never having been charged with a crime, these three pastors—Haile Nayzgi, Kiflu Gebremeskel and Meron Gebreselasie—are among hundreds of jailed persecuted believers in Eritrea. Abune Antonios, another church leader, died under house arrest at the age of 94 in 2022.
Eritrea, a country of 5.6 million, is home to 1.8 million Christians. Detained believers endure horrific conditions, including sexual abuse and torture, according to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Many are held in metal containers left in the jungle, subject to terrible heat during the day and freezing temperatures at night. Officials who commit human rights abuse are left unpunished.