Sixty-nine freed, while five more arrested – Release partner says little sign of a ‘change of heart’
It’s been described as the North Korea of Africa – Eritrea, a single-party state where one in six of the population has fled the country.
In 2002, the dictator Isaias Afwerki banned all but a handful of religions. He has arrested hundreds of Christians and held them without trial – indefinitely.
But in recent weeks, Eritrea has released a number of Christian prisoners.
Some say it’s to ease the spread of Covid in its overcrowded jails. However, Release Partner, Dr Berhane Asmelash, says the number released is too small to have any impact on the pandemic.
But the fact that some Christians have been set free is still good news. As Dr Asmelash explained to Release International’s Andrew Boyd…