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Open Doors Youth, PO Box 6, Witney, Oxon, UK, OX29 6WG

+44 (0) 1993 460015 / youth@opendoorsuk.org

We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are, beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.

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Eritrea

World Watch List ranking: 6

How many Christians?

1.7 million (44.2%)

Leader

President Isaias Afwerki

SUMMARY

Christians in churches the government refuses to formally approve are considered enemies of the state and have faced beatings, imprisonment and torture. Those who are arrested have been locked in metal shipping containers battling with horrific heat in the day and freezing temperatures at night. Islamic extremism is on the rise, and radical groups seem well connected with country leaders.

EVERY £8

Could provide a young person from Central Asia with a Bible in their own language

EVERY £26

Could provide trauma care for a victim of violent persecution

GIVE NOW

“Even when we are in suffering, we rejoice. Our happiness is not based on what we have or do not have. When people see that, they accept Jesus.”

Pastor Gideon, who has spent more than six years in prison for his faith

ERITREA: QUICK FACTS

  • Government authorities regularly conduct house raids, and have arrested hundreds of ‘unsanctioned’ Christians, particularly church leaders. 
  • Current estimates suggest around 1,000 Eritrean Christians are imprisoned, and they haven’t been charged with any crime. 
  • Extreme pressure and state-sanctioned violence are forcing some Christians to flee the country, in addition to the country’s conscription law that forces young Christians into indefinite military service without the right to conscientious objection. 
  • Converts face intense pressure from their families, including forced marriage and forced conversion. 

ERITREA: WHY ARE CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED?

The government demands complete obedience. Eritrea is often called the ‘North Korea of Africa’ due to its extreme censorship, and Christians are among those who face heavy scrutiny, including monitoring of phone calls and internet use. 

Sadly, a significant amount of Christian persecution in Eritrea comes from other Christian denominations, particularly the Eritrean Orthodox Church (EOC). 

Converts to Evangelicalism and other non-traditional churches from the three denominations recognised by the government – EOC, Catholic and Lutheran – or from Islam face severe opposition both from the authorities and their families and communities.  

Eritrea: More Details

Abdullah’s story

Becoming a Christian in Eritrea cost Abdullah* everything. His job, his freedom and eventually his life. This persecution might have ended if he’d renounced Jesus – but that was something he refused to do. He knows Jesus is worth the cost. 

Like most Eritreans, Abdullah grew up in a Muslim home. When he decided to follow Jesus, he could have been a secret believer – but he was so passionate about his new faith that he couldn’t keep it quiet. He told everyone at work about Jesus – he wanted them to know the good news too! One of his coworkers was angry, and secretly recorded him while baiting him into making political comments. The next day, Abdullah was arrested and imprisoned. 

In prison, he was only given food three times a week. His wife wasn’t allowed to bring him any extra food or clothes, or even to see him – though she did receive letters, in which she learned that he was getting increasingly sick in prison. Tragically, he eventually died.  

Those close to the family say that Abdullah was imprisoned to discourage his faith. Ultimately, the authorities wanted him to deny Christ and convert back to Islam. He was told that, were he to do this, the charges against him would be dropped. But no imprisonment, hunger, torture or sickness could separate Abdullah from the love of God.

*Name changed for security reasons

Watch Eyal’s Story

In this inspiring video Eyal shares how the courage of Eritrean believers is helping them to stand firm in the face of persecution, imprisonment and even death.

How is Open Doors helping

Open Doors works through local church partners in Eritrea to provide economic empowerment projects, discipleship training and persecution survival training. 

PRAY NOW

Heavenly Father, we lift up these believers to You, asking for Your protection, strength and unity among all Christians in Eritrea. May Your love and grace sustain them through every trial, and may they remain steadfast in their faith. Amen.

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LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

North Korea

400,000 (1.5% of the population)

North Korea is the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian. The leadership are viewed as divine, so those following Jesus pose a real threat to their ruling status. Those suspected of following Jesus will be arrested and interrogated. Up to 70,000 Christians are living in horrific labour camps.

LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

Somalia

Hundreds (in a population of 19.3 million)

SOMALIA: QUICK FACTS SOMALIA: WHY ARE CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED? Al-Shabaab, a violent Islamic militant group at war with the government, controls large swathes of the country. This group enforces a strict form of Sharia (Islamic law) and is committed to eradicating Christianity from Somalia.  Persecution for Christians also comes from within their own families and communities. […]

LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

Yemen

A small number (exact figures are hard to define)

A country where Muslims who choose to follow Jesus could face the death penalty…

LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

Libya

35,500 (0.5%)

Libya: QUICK FACTS Libya: TWHY ARE CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED? Libya has an honour/shame culture, and it is considered deeply shameful for the whole family when a Libyan wants to change their religion from Islam.  Islamic militant groups target Christians for human trafficking, forced labour and sexual enslavement, or kidnap for ransom – particularly those who are […]

LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

Sudan

2 million (4.1%)

Conflict, targeted persecution, Islamic extremism and instability all mean Christians are counting the cost in Sudan…

LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

Nigeria

106.6 million (46.5%)

More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world, combined…

LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

Pakistan

4.5 million (1.8%)

PAKISTAN: QUICK FACTS PAKISTAN: THE BASICS In Pakistan’s honour/shame culture, it is considered deeply shameful for a family member to leave Islam – and so converts face intense opposition from their own family and community, including so-called ‘honour’ killing.  All Christians suffer from institutionalised discrimination, and occupations that are deemed low, dirty and degrading – […]

LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

Iran

800,00 (0.9% of the population)

Converting to Christianity from Islam is illegal in Iran, a place where Christians ca be arrested simply for attending a house church…

LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

Afghanistan

Thousands (in a population of 43 million)

If an Afghan’s Christian faith is discovered, it can be a death sentence, or they can be detained and tortured into giving information about fellow believers…

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