Eritrean Embassy rejects petition calling for release of imprisoned Christian leaders

The Eritrean Embassy in Washington, D.C., rejected a petition advocating for the release of seven Christian leaders imprisoned in Eritrea for over two decades without formal charges. The petition, delivered by religious freedom advocates during a protest outside the embassy on August 21, 2025, called attention to the country’s severe restrictions on religious expression, often described as “the North Korea of Africa” due to its harsh treatment of religious dissidents.

The protest, organized by the Religious Liberty Partnership’s Voices for Justice campaign and supported by groups such as 21 Wilberforce, Set My People Free, Christian Freedom International, and the Jubilee Campaign, coincided with the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence. Advocates from around the world planned to hold similar demonstrations, processions, and prayer meetings, urging the international community to address Eritrea’s human rights violations.

The seven detained Christian leaders, including Orthodox priests, are reportedly held at the Wengel Mermera Criminal Investigation Centre, a maximum-security facility condemned by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom as “atrocious.” The petition cited the Eritrean Constitution of 1997, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to argue that the detainees’ treatment violates international legal standards.

During the protest, Ella Elwin of Christian Freedom International attempted to deliver the letter to the embassy, but it was refused. The letter, signed by advocacy organizations and individuals, highlighted the plight of the imprisoned leaders and called for their release. Lou Ann Sabatier, director of communications for 21 Wilberforce, stated that the advocates would mail the letter to the embassy as an alternative.

Two Eritrean-born members of a Coptic Christian church traveled from Delaware to participate in the protest after learning about it through social media. Araya Debessay, who has resided in the United States for over four decades, shared his experience in an interview with The Christian Post, emphasizing the need for international support for religious freedom in Eritrea.

Source: Read the original report