Eritrean Christian Dies In Prison Camp

Reportedly died of torture and lack of medical care

ASMARA, ERITREA (BosNewsLife)– A Christian man has died in one of Eritrea’s notorious military prison camps, the ninth believer known to have perished in detention in the African nation, a Christian aid and advocacy group told BosNewsLife.

In a statement seen Wednesday, July 29, Netherlands-based Open Doors said Yemane Kahasay Andom, 43, died because of torture and a lack of medical care in the Mitire military prison camp.

“For two weeks Andom was mistreated and tortured,” Open Doors added. The group said the Christian was held in an underground isolation cell, apparently after refusing to sign a document renouncing his faith in Christ.

Authorities also refused him medical treatment for a serious form of Malaria, Christians explained. It was unclear Wednesday, July 29, whether Andom was married or which family members he leaves behind.

SECRETLY BURIED

Andom, who was detained for some eighteen months, was the third Christian believed to have died in the camp this year. Open Doors cited sources as saying that he was secretly buried within in the camp.

With the latest reported death, the death toll of imprisoned Eritrean Christian rose to at least nine, Open Doors said. Christians and several rights groups say there are some 2,800 Christians jailed under often horrific circumstances in several prisons facilities, including underground cells, containers and military prison camps.

Eritrea’s government has denied mass Christian detentions saying “no groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion.”

The Eritrean government in May 2002 outlawed all religious groups except Islam and the Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran churches. Eritrean Christians say the government of President Isaias Afwerki has stepped up its crackdown on churches it has outlawed. Eritrea has been included in the U.S. State Department’s latest list of “worst violators” of religious freedom.

Read Another Article

Judge postpones ruling on sale of farm sect considers future temple site
Christians Increasingly Vulnerable in ‘Secular’ Nepal

Related News Articles Topic(s): Religious Persecution Related Tags / Keywords: Eritrea • Religious Persecution Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?] Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?] Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults: ApologeticsSearch.com: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs. CounterCultSearch.com: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, and cults experts -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support. Find Related Religion & Spirituality Books at Amazon.com Religious Persecution Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles Iranian Authorities Raid House Church in Shiraz, Arrest Christians Burma Troops ‘Kill, Torture’ Christian Kachins Despite Ceasefire Pledge Islamic Extremists Behead Christian Convert from Islam in Somalia Russian Mission Group Warns Of Crackdown On Evangelicals Seven Christians Killed in Bauchi State, Nigeria Christians in Sudan and South Sudan Facing Death And Detention Sudan Threatens to Arrest Church Leaders Ugandan Teenager Tortured for Becoming a Christian Regaining Use of Legs Somali Convert from Islam Whipped in Public Pakistani Christian Falsely Charged with ‘Blasphemy’ after Argument

Search Religion News Blog