{"id":53634,"date":"2025-04-08T16:11:07","date_gmt":"2025-04-08T07:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/?p=53634"},"modified":"2025-04-08T16:25:14","modified_gmt":"2025-04-08T07:25:14","slug":"vomk-report-343","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/2025\/04\/08\/vomk-report-343\/","title":{"rendered":"ERITREA: NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS IN PRISON INCREASED 66% IN 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53627″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea is reporting that the number of Christians imprisoned in Eritrea for their faith rose from 300 to 500 in 2024\u2014a 66% increase in one year. The ministry says the few Christian prisoners released last year are struggling to find housing because the government is warning landlords not to rent their properties to believers. According to Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley, the increase in arrests is due to significant growth in the Eritrean church as young Christians continue to spread the gospel while the church\u2019s long-time imprisoned leaders pray for them from prison. ” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:1.2em|text_align:left|color:%23111111″ google_fonts=”font_family:Noto%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” css=”” el_class=”headline”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Back in <\/span>May 2002, Eritrean authorities ordered the closure of all non-Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran churches<\/span>,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says <\/span>Representative Foley<\/span>. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Since <\/span>then, Christians from banned churches have been arrested and imprisoned <\/span>with open-ended sentences, <\/span>without being formally charged or tried.<\/span> Most of the leaders of the evangelical churches have spent more than two decades in <\/span>\u2018<\/span>shipping container prisons<\/span>\u2019<\/span> and are still there to this day. <\/span>That\u2019s<\/span> why Eritrea is rightfully called the \u2018North Korea of Africa\u2019 and is continually ranked as one of the worst persecutors of Christians in the world.\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53636″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that <\/span>Christian prisoners are not <\/span>permitted<\/span> to have any contact with their families.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Their families are not allowed to visit them or to bring food to them,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>If a prisoner becomes sick, <\/span>they are not <\/span>given any medical care, and their families are not notified.<\/span>\u201d<\/span> Representative Foley says that <\/span>a pastor in his 80<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s who <\/span>w<\/span>as in prison for 3 years was refused medical care and recently died. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>The pastor<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s son has also been in prison for more than 7 years,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> she says. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>He was an air force pilot who was arrested <\/span>because of his Christian <\/span>faith. He is <\/span>locked up in <\/span>a <\/span>container cell and <\/span>has <\/span>never <\/span>been <\/span>seen by anyone<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Foley<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s Voice of the Martyrs Korea organization partners with its Voice of the Martyrs sister missions to provide support to the families of Christian prisoners, and to arrange for money, food, and medicine to be smuggled into prison <\/span>through sympathetic prison guards <\/span>to help the Christian prisoners themselves. In the past three years the organizations have provided training to 800 young Christian leaders, as well as financial support for 200 of those leaders<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>One of the <\/span>ex-prisoners who had been detained for 11 years was disowned by his own family members when he was released and tried to return home,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. She says many families and landlords refuse to provide housing or help of any kind to the ex-prisoners out of fear of government punishment. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>He got arthritis in his hands while in prison, which <\/span>became worse and worse because he was denied treatment. Now he is being cared for by<\/span> Christian brothers and sisters<\/span>, and we <\/span>have been <\/span>able to cover the costs of his housing, <\/span>medicine<\/span>,<\/span> and food.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53633″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Mai Serma prison, Eritrea, where many Christian prisoners are being held. The red outline indicates metal shipping containers. Satellite image: UN\/Google” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says <\/span>that <\/span>even though the Eritrean government continues to crack down on Christianity, the crackdown is <\/span>actually causing<\/span> the Eritrean church to <\/span>grow in size<\/span> and strength.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Inside the prison, many non<\/span>–<\/span>Christians have c<\/span>o<\/span>me to know the Lord because of the generosity <\/span>and testimony of the <\/span>Christian<\/span> prisoner<\/span>s<\/span>, who share with them the material help they receive from us,<\/span>\u201d<\/span> says Representative Foley. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Many <\/span>Christians <\/span>have become stronger believers and ministers<\/span> as a result of their suffering.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley <\/span>gives the example of a Christian woman who was released 4 years ago after spending 12 years in prison. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>She was re-arrested<\/span> after the place where she was meeting was raided by the<\/span> authorities<\/span>. Now she has been sent to <\/span>the prison<\/span> in the desert. Although we were <\/span>very sad<\/span> for her<\/span>, <\/span>she said she is happy <\/span>because she is now <\/span>bringing many prisoners to Christ.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53631″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Representative Foley says that although communication with prisoners is forbidden, occasionally guards who are secretly Christian or who are sympathetic <\/span>to the<\/span> Christian prisoners will smuggle letters in or out. Below is an excerpt from one such letter, written by a<\/span>n Eritrean<\/span> Christian who has been in prison for his faith for <\/span>more than 15<\/span> years. He <\/span>uses the code name <\/span>\u201c<\/span>Onesimus<\/span>\u201d<\/span> (the name of the Christian slave on whose behalf the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to his owner, Philemon, which is preserved in <\/span>the<\/span> New Testament):<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

A letter from a prisoner,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To my beloved brother B [Name withheld for security reasons]; In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I extend my warm and sincere greetings to you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My brother B, how are you? From my end, apart from the love and longing to see you I am getting used to the prison life. This is because the grace of our Lord has been multiplied in my life, and also [because] of your prayers I am well in everything\u2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the [exact number redacted for security reasons] years of my prison time, you shared in my suffering as if you were in prison with me; and you stood by my family and participated in our pain. Your love has comforted me, and may God give you your reward in the time of our Lord\u2026<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please pass my gratitude to those who are praying for us. Please tell them their prayer is accomplishing great things in our lives and it really helped us a lot. All the brothers who are with me are extending their greetings to you.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From your beloved brother \u2018Onesimus\u2019.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=””]Voice of the Martyrs Korea administers a fund to provide ongoing support to Eritrean Christian prisoners, ex-prisoners, front-line gospel workers, and their families. Churches and individuals interested in making a donation to VOMK\u2019s Eritrea Fund can do so at <\/span>www.vomkorea.com\/en\/donation<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 (select \u201cEritrea\u201d from the donation option menu) or via electronic transfer to\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uad6d\ubbfc\uc740\ud589<\/span> 463501-01-243303<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\uc608\uae08\uc8fc<\/span>: (<\/span>\uc0ac<\/span>)<\/span>\uc21c\uad50\uc790\uc758\uc18c\ub9ac<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Please include the phrase \u201cEritrea\u201d on the transfer.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53630″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”(From file) Shipping containers in a desert in Eritrea. Christian leaders have been imprisoned in such containers for more than two decades.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:13px|text_align:center|color:%230a0101|line_height:1.45em” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”53627″ img_size=”full” css=””][vc_custom_heading text=”Voice of the Martyrs Korea is reporting that the number of Christians imprisoned in Eritrea for their faith rose from 300 to 500 in 2024\u2014a 66% …","protected":false},"author":659,"featured_media":53628,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[140],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vomk-report"],"translation":{"provider":"WPGlobus","version":"3.0.2","language":"en","enabled_languages":["ko","en","zh","ru"],"languages":{"ko":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"en":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"zh":{"title":true,"content":true,"excerpt":false},"ru":{"title":false,"content":false,"excerpt":false}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/659"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53634"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53634\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53656,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53634\/revisions\/53656"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vomkorea.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}