Eritrean Evangelical Head, 3 Americans Among 80 Arrested in Church Raid
Jennifer Gold
Monday, May. 7, 2007

LONDON – The Presbyterian Mehret Yesus Church in Asmara, Eritrea, was raided by government forces during a church service last week, according to sources close to human rights NGO Release Eritrea-UK.

Reports have indicated that around 80 people were detained, including the leader of the church, the Rev. Zecharias Abraham, who had also been serving as head of the Eritrean Evangelical Alliance since the May 2004 arrest of previous head Haile Naizgi.

At least three American citizens were also reportedly among those detained during the Apr. 29 raid.

The Mehret Yesus Church was one of the few churches allowed to function after the government in 2002 decreed the closure of all churches not belonging to the Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran denominations. the rest map