Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Christian Tortured to Death in Eritrea

Christian Tortured to Death in Eritrea - Compass Direct News/Open Doors

On September 5, Eritrean authorities tortured to death 33-year-old Nigsti Haile for refusing to recant her Christian faith while being held at the Wi'a Military Training Center. Haile is the fourth Christian killed in Eritrea in less than a year. Compass Direct News reported, "She was one of 10 single Christian women arrested at a church gathering in Keren. They have spent 18 months under severe pressure. Haile was killed for refusing to sign a letter recanting her faith."

In May 2002, government officials called in the leaders of all evangelical churches in Eritrea and told them they would not be permitted to hold further public services. Only the "historic religions" of Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran and Islam have been allowed to hold public worship since that time. Compass Direct says that more than 2,000 Eritrean Christians are imprisoned. Not a single one of them has been formally charged or had a public trial, and all have been denied legal representation.

Amnesty International released a report yesterday that said most of the more than 2,000 imprisoned Christians have been held for more than two years in harsh conditions, with little or no medical care. Pray for the Holy Spirit to comfort the family of Nigsti Haile. Ask God to protect and encourage Christians in Eritrea, especially believers imprisoned because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 10: 5-6

2 comments:

SocietyVs said...

Where is Eritrea? I have no clue.

I think it is sad (1) that people are being killed for the faith - which is not an actual crime of any sort world-wide; and (2) that these other faiths don't do anything to try curb this 'madness' (and I believe you mentioned Lutherans and United?). If this is true - why don't we boycott those churches for the sin of 'omission' they are committing in a country where people of the same faith are being killed for nothing.

Craig Fletcher said...

I was reading a book about evil by Os Guiness yesterday, and he brought up a good point:

Evil itself is not as bad as people that recognize evil for what it is and observing it, and yet not doing anything about it.

that's even worse.