Prominent Eritrean Pastor Disappears

(Compass) – A leading evangelical pastor disappeared off the streets of Asmara four days ago, presumably detained by Eritrean security forces. Kidane Weldou of the Full Gospel Church was apparently taken into custody at mid morning on March 18. For the past four days, Weldou’s family and church members have been unable to learn anything about his whereabouts or the charges under which he is being held. Two other leading pastors in the Full Gospel Church have been jailed for the past 10 months without charges or trial. On March 19, Eritrea ’s ambassador to the U.S. tried to defend his nation’s religious freedom record in a Tigrinya-language interview broadcast over Voice of America. According to listeners, Girma Asmerom compared Eritrea ’s independent Christian churches to Al-Qaeda and said the Eritrean government should be commended for persecuting the evangelical “terrorists.”