Eritrea (MNN) — After being denied even the most basic of needs, three Christians died in Eritrean military camps over the last few weeks.
Open Doors, USA received word of two Christian women who have died during the course of the last week in the Adersete Military Camp in western Eritrea. According to a reliable source, Terhase Gebremichel Andu, age 28, and Ferewine Genzabu Kifly, age 21, were detained in a secret dungeon-like confinement intended for religious prisoners.
Andu and Kifly, both employees of a wholesale store, were arrested during a prayer meeting in 2009 at a private home in Tesenai. They faced two years of physical military torture, were denied medical care, and ultimately died as a result of starvation and poor health.
Andu died on October 16 one week ahead of Kifly.
Within weeks of these deaths, another believer, Angesom Teklom Habtemichel, age 26, also died in an Eritrean military camp. Habtemichel served two years in Adi Nefase Military Camp, Asab. He contracted severe malaria but was denied medical treatment because of his written refusal to recant his Christian faith. He died after one week of sickness.
Countless believers remain in prisons across Eritrea for their faith, enduring untold suffering. Pray for their courage to continue preaching the Good News even in the pit of suffering. Pray for protection for "free" believers who continue to share the Truth.
Eritrea has a long history of severely mistreating Christians, particularly while in detention. The country's reputation has earned a spot as the World Watch List's 12th worst nation for Christian persecution. To learn more about Eritrea, click here.
