Eritrean pastors who were reportedly moved this week to an unknown location in the war torn African nation.
The Voice Of the Martyrs (VOM) said it had learned that family members and friends are in "distress and deep sadness" after discovering that Rev. Haile Naizgi, Dr. Kiflu Gebremeske, and Pastor Tesfatsion Hagos were no longer in their prison.
VOM quoted Compass Direct news agency as saying that wives and friends discovered the disappearance of their loved ones Tuesday, August 24, when they tried to bring food and clothing to the jail, where the men were held since May, without charges.
Eritrean church sources say their disappearance "may be good or bad news," VOM claimed. "In the past, prisoners have, at times, been taken to an unknown location and then released. Other times, they are moved and remain in custody," the organization said in a statement.
HUNDREDS JAILED
The pastors’ plight underscored the difficulties of at least four hundred evangelical Christians who are believed to remain in custody for their faith. In May 2002, the Eritrean government made all religions illegal other than Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Islam, human rights groups say.
Human rights watchers claim that besides church leaders many other Christians have been jailed, including women, teenagers, children, the elderly and dozens of soldiers. Many have been subjected to torture and "demeaning conditions" for months, said Compass Direct, which has close contacts with persecuted churches in Eritrea.
CHURCHES CLOSED
At least a dozen denominations have reportedly been closed and their congregations totaling about 20,000 believers are forbidden to worship in their homes.
The Eritrean Christian fellowship in Europe (ECFE) has urged Eritrea’s President, Isaias Afewerki, to end the persecution of "so many Eritrean Christians" after adults and children were apparently jailed for praying and reading the Bible together earlier this year.
However Afewerki has told media that several religious groups were "duped by foreigners" who he said sought to "distract from the unity of the Eritrean people and distort the true meaning of religion."
"FUTILE EFFORTS"
He was quoted as saying that such "futile efforts" would not be tolerated by his government. Christians say the "religious persecution" has added to desperation among Eritrea’s roughly four million people.
The country emerged from its long war of independence in 1993 only to plunge into another conflict, first with Yemen and then, more devastatingly, with its old adversary Ethiopia.
VOM urged its supporters, who are mainly ‘born-again’ Christians, to "pray for (the) safety and strength for these pastors and the hundreds of others in prison" for their faith. "Pray that the families will obtain information on the whereabouts of their loved ones," it added. VOM Canada was involved in producing a video news report in Eritrea, which it said can be viewed in the video section of internet website: http://www.persecution.tv With author Stefan J. Bos
