ERITREA: More Christians Die in Custody

Compass Direct (CD) reports that Pastor Habtom Tesfamichel (57), a founder of the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea, was arrested in Asmara on 23 January. He had led the Asmara congregation since its previous pastor, Kidane Woldu, was imprisoned in March 2005. On Thursday 15 February, Magos Solomon Semere (30) died in custody from the effects of physical torture and untreated pneumonia. Arrested twice, each time for worshipping in a Protestant church,
he had spent most of the last four-and-a-half years in prison. CD reports that on Sunday 18 February ten more Christians were arrested as they visited a newly married couple after their wedding.