Christian Dies In Eritrean Military Confinement Camp

SANTA ANA, CA ANS — Sources in Eritrea says there has been a death of another Christian in Mitire Military Confinement Camp.

Yemane Kahasay Andom, 43, of the Kale-Hiwot church of Mendefera died Thursday, July 23. He allegedly was secretly buried in the camp. He had spent the past 18 months in Mitire.

According to the sources, Andom had contracted severe malaria for which he was denied proper treatment. He was allegedly further weakened by continuous physical torture and solitary confinement in an underground cell two weeks prior to his death for his refusal to sign a recantation form. It is not clear what the contents of the recantation form were, but most Christians interpret the signing of such a form as the denouncement of their faith in Christ.

Andom becomes the third recorded Christian to die while being incarcerated in Mitire and the ninth in Eritrean detention centers.

Mogos Hagos Kiflom, 37, died in early January allegedly as a result of torture in Mitire. On January 16 Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom, 42, also died in Mitire as a result of ongoing physical torture and complications from his diabetes.

Eritrea is ranked No. 9 on Open Doors’ World Watch List of the 50 countries which are the worst persecutors of Christians.

“What is happening regarding the persecution of evangelicals in this small country in eastern Africa is a disgrace,” says Open Doors USA President/CEO Carl Moeller. “There is no legal recourse for those Christians who have been tossed into prison camps. Many of them face torture and death as with Andom and others. Many of them continue to keep their faith under tremendous pressure. Please join me in prayer for those still in prison camps.”

Christians in Eritrea have reported that the government has taken a turn in their tactics to suppress the evangelical faith in the country.

In a letter smuggled out of a place of detention, incarcerated Christians tell how the officials’ methods of interrogation have changed. According to the writers of the letter, interrogators are trying to force Christian prisoners to admit that their churches have been participating in work for the CIA on behalf of the United States government.

Christians in Eritrea explain that if the imprisoned believers give in to this pressure, they may be forced to testify against their church associations in a military court. A guilty verdict in this court could have severe implications for the church associations.

According to Open Doors sources, all prisoners confronted in this way have so far refused to give in, apparently resulting in severe “physical and psychological” torture.

More than 2,800 Evangelical Christians remain incarcerated in Eritrean prisons for their refusal to quit practicing their religion outside of the government approved Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox churches. These believers are kept under harrowing conditions – facing torture, insufficient food and extreme temperatures in desert-like conditions.

Although the government has legalized worship inside the Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox churches, there have been instances of persecution against followers from all three groups.

Prayer Points:

For God’s sustaining grace for all those who find themselves in prison in Eritrea for their faith in Christ.
For the families of all those who have died in incarceration. Pray that the Lord will be their comfort and their strength.
The government will end the persecution of evangelicals and grant freedom to all religions.