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Arrests in Eritrea Continue

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

ASMARA, ERITREA (Worthy News)-- Authorities recently arrested 90 believers in Eritrea as part of a campaign against Christians that began back in December. Although six were eventually released, the whereabouts of the other 84 is unknown.

In June, police arrested 26 college students from the Mai-Mefhi College of Technology, supposedly because they didn't participate in Eritrean Independence Day Celebrations. The previous month, 64 Christians in a village near the capital were arrested and detained at Asmara's 6th Police Station; some sources believe they either remain in custody at the station, or have been moved to Mitire Prison in northeastern Eritrea.

Mitire is a remote military prison infamous for its harsh conditions; although prisoners there receive very little food, they are forced to construct buildings. As there are no medical facilities, prisoners who become too ill to work are moved from the prison.

More than a decade ago, Eritrea banned all Christian groups not belonging to official government recognized churches. To date, the government has imprisoned several thousand worshippers. Many Christians still remain in custody without ever having gone to trial; 16 have died in prison due to torture, illness and malnutrition.