Eritrean evangelist Mussie Eyob (33), who was arrested in Saudi Arabia for preaching outside a mosque in Jeddah, has been deported to Eritrea and has disappeared in the capital, Asmara.

Three more Christians imprisoned for practising their faith have died in Eritrean military prison camps. The number of Eritrean Christians who have died while in prison for their belief now totals 21.

Hiwet Tesfu (23) and Zemame Mehari (27) are reported to have died in Alla military camp, where they had been imprisoned for two years and three months, and where they were buried.

Both women had been in ill health and were repeatedly tortured and denied medical treatment. Hiwet and Zemame are the 17th and 18th Christians known to have died in prison in Eritrea, and the fourth and fifth Christians known to have died in Alla Military Camp.

During May and June 2011 about 90 Eritrean Christians from around the capital, Asmara, have been arrested and imprisoned.

In May some 64 Christians were arrested in Adi Abeyto, a village near Asmara. Six have been released, but the others are believed to be either at the Asmara police station where they were taken initially or in Me'eter Prison. Me'eter is a remote military prison, known for torture and extremely harsh treatment, where three Christians have died in recent years.

The ongoing repression of Christians in Eritrea was highlighted yesterday at a protest vigil held outside the Eritrean Embassy in London. Some protesters wore masks to draw attention to the "mask" of freedom and happiness which the Eritrean government seeks to show to the world.

Click here to view a video of the protest vigil

Over 100 Christians have been arrested by Eritrean security officials since 30 December 2010.

The authorities targeted churches in and around the capital, Asmara, and the town of Nakfa, in northern Eritrea. The arrests confirmed fears of a government crackdown on churches. The director of the organisation Release Eritrea, Selam Kidane, had warned of escalating persecution across the country in her address at a conference in November.

At least 40 Christians have been arrested in the latest crackdown in southern Eritrea. Most of the detained belong to the Full Gospel Church, an evangelical church that was among those banned by Eritrean officials in May 2002.

Last Thursday, Irish Christians joined others who had travelled from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to team up with English Christians and Eritrean nationals to stand in solidarity for the cause of religious freedom in Eritrea. View the protest vigil in this YouTube video.

Read a full text report of the vigil.

Metropolitan Seraphim of Glastonbury (Head of the British Orthodox Church), Anglican Bishop of Woolwich, Right Reverend Christopher Chessun and Dr. Berhane Asmelash (Release Eritrea!) presented a letter to the Eritrean Embassy in London yesterday at the conclusion of a protest vigil.