Over 300 Gather at National Day of Prayer for Eritrea
ICC Note
“We congratulate the (organizers of) … such a successful event, and encourage Christians around the world to continue praying for an end to repression in Eritrea, where over 2000 Eritrean Christians are currently detained indefinitely and are often tortured for their faith.”
By Jeremy Reynalds
05/20/2008 Eritrea (ANS) — Over 300 people from around the world gathered in Nairobi , Kenya last Sunday for the second National Day of Prayer for Eritrea .
Eritrea is located in Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan .
According to a news release from human rights organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), organizers reported the main venue became so full that an overflow hall was needed to accommodate all the participants.
CSW reported that in the week leading up to the event, several thousand Eritrean Christians in Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East took part in a week of prayer and fasting, and later held their own prayer events on May 18.
Churches in Eritrea also took part in the fasting and day of prayer. Following the Sunday meeting, delegates at the event said they believe that change in Eritrea is imminent.
“The time for prisoners to be released is close,” CSW reported one key Eritrean leader said.
CSW reported that another leader also remarked that “the event appears to be producing greater unity amongst Eritrea ’s churches.”
CSW’s National Director, Stuart Windsor, said in a news release, “We congratulate the (organizers of) … such a successful event, and encourage Christians around the world to continue praying for an end to repression in Eritrea, where over 2000 Eritrean Christians are currently detained indefinitely and are often tortured for their faith.”
CSW is a human rights organization, which specializes in religious freedom and works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs.
