The annual Prayer and Protest Vigil at the Eritrean Embassy in London on behalf of persecuted Christians in Eritrea began with a simple chant led by Scott Bower (CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide): “Eritrea – Set Them Free”.
The chant summarised the long-repeated call from the supporters of the four organisations that organise the vigil – Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Church in Chains, Human Rights Concern Eritrea and Release Eritrea – for the Eritrean government to lift its ban on independent churches and release all prisoners of conscience.
The vigil has been held annually in May for the past twenty-three years to mark the anniversary of the closure of churches in May 2002.
Welcoming protesters to this year’s vigil, David Turner (Director, Church in Chains) read some relevant verses from the Bible: “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” (Isaiah 62 v 6,7) He told protesters that these verses encourage us in our day to faithful and continued intercession on behalf of God’s people in Eritrea and that those present at the vigil were standing in solidarity with those who are not free.
Dr Berhane Asmelash, Director of Release Eritrea, spoke on the topic of the church and prisoners and said: “In the past six months 300 Christian prisoners have been released – most were short-term prisoners, but one was released after 18 years. There are many, who sometimes we don’t know, who are still suffering in many Eritrean prisons. There is one Christian who has been imprisoned for eight years in an isolated container and his family has had no chance to see him. But there is also good news. The good news is people are still worshipping wherever they are – in prison or outside prison, in houses everywhere… We are proud of all of these people… Sometimes we forget to name their names, but they will never be forgotten by the Lord.” David Franklin (Chair, Church in Chains) then prayed for Christian prisoners and the church in Eritrea.
Elsa Chyrum, Director of Human Rights Concern-Eritrea, spoke on the topic of Eritrean refugees and trafficking victims, and said: “Eritrean refugees are people who have already suffered under one of the world’s most oppressive and dictatorial regimes, yet continue to suffer even after fleeing their homeland. Many Eritreans first flee to Sudan, only to become trapped in war, hunger, displacement, and violence. Others flee to Ethiopia through Tigray, where human trafficking has become rampant. In Libya, Eritrean refugees face torture, detention, and abuse while in Egypt, thousands of Eritrean refugees have reportedly been arrested, with reports of torture and deportation. Let us pray for protection, justice, compassion, and lasting solutions for Eritrean refugees and trafficking victims everywhere.”
Dr Khataza Gondwe, Director of Advocacy and Team Leader for Africa and the Middle East at CSW, spoke about the injustices perpetrated by the Eritrean government, including its use of indefinite military service. She said, “Under President Isaias Afwerki, Eritrea has endured more than three decades without national elections, without an implemented constitution, and without fundamental rights and freedoms.” She also highlighted the particular importance of the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea at the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council, “as it is the only independent international mechanism for monitoring this human rights crisis”.
The vigil included an attempt by representatives from CSW, Church In Chains, Human Rights Concern-Eritrea and Release Eritrea to deliver a letter to the Eritrean Head of Mission to the UK and Ireland, Mr Salih Abdalla. The letter asked Mr Abdalla “to use your good offices to encourage the Government of Eritrea to release all prisoners of conscience unconditionally, to uphold the rights and fundamental freedoms articulated in the country’s commendable but unimplemented Constitution, and to ensure that Eritrea’s citizens are finally able to enjoy the full dividends of independence, for which so much was sacrificed by so many”.
However, as the embassy refused to open the door to receive the letter directly, it was posted through the letter box.
Mervyn Thomas, Founder President of CSW, ended the vigil by turning to directly address the Embassy staff across the street saying, “We know you are watching us and we want you to know that we stand against a regime that arbitrarily imprisons thousands of people in your country. We love those people who are suffering under the oppression of your regime. We come here each year to ask you to stop in the name of humanity. In the name of God, we pray that you would stop your repression of Christians and others in your country. We ask you to set the people free.”
(Church in Chains, Christian Solidarity Worldwide)
Photo Credits: Church in Chains, Christian Solidarity Worldwide