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Christianity Today, December, 2007 |

Tortured to Death in Eritrea

Fourth Protestant in a year killed by government forces.

Jeff M. Sellers, Compass Direct | posted 11/09/2007 09:04AM

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Government authorities tortured a woman to death on September 5 for refusing to deny her evangelical faith. It was the fourth such killing in less than a year, according to a Christian support organization.

Citing Christian sources in the East African nation, Open Doors reported that 33-year-old Nigsti Haile was killed for refusing to sign a letter renouncing her faith. Held at the Wi'a military training center 20 miles south of the Red Sea port of Massawa, Haile was one of 10 single Christian women arrested at an independent church gathering in Keren. The women have spent 18 months under severe pressure.

Eritrea officially recognizes only Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran Christian churches. In May 2002, it outlawed independent Protestant churches, closing their buildings and banning them from meeting in private homes. Haile was a member of a Rhema church.

Earlier this year, on February 15, Magos Solomon Semere died under torture at the Adi-Nefase military confinement facility outside Assab, four and a half years after the Eritrean regime jailed him for worshiping in a banned Protestant church. And last October 17, Immanuel Andegergesh, 23, and Kibrom Firemichel, 30, were arrested for holding a religious service in a private home south of Asmara. Two days later, they died from torture wounds and severe dehydration in a military camp outside the town of Adi-Quala.

Eritrea is the only country under commercial sanctions by the U.S. for its restrictions on religious liberty and has been deemed a "country of particular concern" by the State Department since 2004.

Eritrea's government currently imprisons more than 2,000 independent Christians. All have been denied legal counsel or trial, with no written charges filed against them.

Related Elsewhere:

Eritrea's conflicts with Ethiopia have raised speculation about war.

Compass Direct reported in September that the Eritrean government had ordered all Protestant assets confiscated.

Other Christianity Today articles on Eritrea are available in our full-coverage news section.

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December 2007, Vol. 51, No. 12

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aNNA	Posted: November 09, 2007 5:14 PM

If Eritrea is a cradle of Christianity than what is the problem with all Christians being there, and, just what are muslims doing there then. Who are the real invaders if Entrea is a cradle of Christianity. Why does Eritrea's government feel it has the right to decide how anybody worships AS LONG AS THEY ARE PEACEFUL. Its none of the gov's business but as citizens it is the business of Christians in how their government is run. The Nazis denied their attempt at Jewish genocide but the proof was fortunately seen by millions of non-Nazis and the people living around these camps knew what was going on but also denied it just like you guys. America's illegals are citizens of other countries not U.S. citizens (and they're still in the U.S. because they choose to be). Your converts are Entreians citizens. It is obvious that different religions do not live peacefully side by side in Entrea judging from the gov's control through laws and different treatments of and control of religions.

Christian Eritrean

Posted: November 09, 2007 4:07 PM

This ballony, nonsens to me. No torture in Eritrea. report on Abu Graib or Guantanomo if you are truly intereted in educating about religously-motivated toruture. There is no such thing as "Adi-Nefase military confinement facility outside Assab" or we never heard of "a military camp outside the town of Adi-Quala." FACTS: 1) All enter and intra-religious mayhem occur on Eritrea's immediate neighbors only (Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda) but you LOVE to vilify Eritrea 2) The fact you focus on "Christian repression" reflects your thinly veiled political bias and fanaticism against non-christian religions 3) Eritrea is a cradle of Christianity. Yet, at the same time, manages to live in complete harmony with its muslim citizens. So your constant vilifying is a classic case of a kettle calling a pot black. I'm sure you'll be judged by Christ for your lies and crimes one day.

william walton

Posted: November 12, 2007 6:48 AM

I think you have lost the plot.This is about our persecuted brothers and sisters that are torured for being a Christian.They are locked up in shipping containers and left in the middle of the dessert and have to endure the unlivable conditions that the dessert delivers.Why? Because they love Jesus.All they ask of us is to Pray for them.Our beloved Brothers and Sisters are persecuted for being christian.No trial, no court no judges.......just a love of God. May God bless them and there families.