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to pay this price; it emboldens the
“free” church to spread the word and
not fear the consequences. They have
become stronger because they have
seen people who are serious about
their faith.
‘Hence the non-Orthodox church
has grown dramatically since it was
banned in 2002. When I left Eritrea
in 1999, evangelicals were just 1 per
cent of the population but now they
are everywhere, in every village. There
could be up to 100 times more believers
in Eritrea than when I left.’
He added: ‘Trying to stop Christianity
has actually increased it. When we had
open worship few people would go to
church but, now the church is shut,
the good news has gone into prisons
and the military where it is harder to
control.
‘The Government tries to use
the Orthodox church to fight the
evangelicals because it cannot do it
alone, but a lot of priests have become
evangelicals themselves.’
There are about 400 Christians
currently imprisoned in Eritrea but
the precise figure is hard to gauge
because many have been detained
without trial or charge. Last year a
number were released but then more
were arrested. Since the start of this
year around 80 have been arrested
including three families who were
discovered worshipping together in
March and more than 30 who were
detained in west and central Eritrea
in April.
‘It is your prayers that
keep me alive’
Among those who have been
imprisoned for 20 years are: Kiflu
Gebremeskel, Futsum Gebrenegus,
Million Gebreselasie, Tekleab
Menghisteab, Haile Naizghe and Rev G.
Gebregiorsis.
Come March 2025, another, Kidane
Weldou, will join that ‘20-year’ group.
Mussie Ezaz, who was first arrested in
2007, is another long-term prisoner.
Dr Asmelash urged UK Christians to
pray for all those in prison. ‘One wrote
to me, saying: “It is your prayers that
keep me alive.”’
Release International has recently
published Dr Asmelash’s biography,
Brother, I Have Come to Arrest
You, which tells the story of his
imprisonment in strife-torn Ethiopia
in the 1980s. He was accused of being
anti-revolutionary because of his
Christian activities.
COMPELLING
READ
BOOK TOURLondon & South
Sunday June 30 –
Sunday July 7
Scotland & Border Counties
Wednesday August 14 –
Wednesday August 21
North & Midlands
Wednesday October 16 –
Wednesday October 23
Wales & West
Wednesday November 20 –
Wednesday November 27
Berhane Asmelash will
be visiting churches in
the following regions to
promote his book, sign
copies and share his story:
Dr Asmelash spent time with
prisoners who were on death row and
led several to Christ. He could have
escaped on numerous occasions, but
believed God wanted him to remain.
When he was finally able to leave
the country, he came to the UK and
has campaigned tirelessly since for
persecuted Christians in Eritrea.
His book is endorsed by Fiona
Bruce MP, vice-chair of the All-Party
Parliamentary Group for International
Freedom of Religion or Belief, who
says: ‘This book needed to be written –
and needs to be read.
‘The world should know of the
suffering and bravery of thousands of
Eritreans, barbarically imprisoned,
tortured, and killed – simply on
account of their beliefs.
‘May this book compel all who read it
to action – to stand with and support,
in whatever way we each can, the
many Christians in Eritrea today who
suffer simply because of their faith in
Jesus Christ.’
• Brother, I Have Come to Arrest
You (priced £10 including p&p)
is available on our website estore
(releaseinternational.org) or by
calling 01689 823491.
The Word, page 22
Please check our events page
www.releaseinternational.org/events for venue details.