Another Christian Dies in Eritrean Prison Camp

Religion Today | Updated: Jul 16, 2013

Another Christian Dies in Eritrean Prison Camp

Open Doors USA has recently learned about the death of another Christian in an Eritrean prison. Yosief Kebedom Gelai, a recently converted single Christian, died in Medefera on July 5. Sources told Open Doors that Yosief, 41, had been sick for a long time, but that the harsh treatment at a secret Medefera incarceration center aggravated the effects of the unknown disease. Yosief is the 24th reported death connected to punishment for religious activities outside of the government-sanctioned Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Lutheran Church and Islam. However, because of the government's secrecy surrounding prisoners and denied access to watchdog organizations, there may be many more deaths and burials that have not been reported. Yosief was originally from Asmara, but went to Mendefera to teach at a primary school some time prior to his arrest. Six months after his arrival Yosief came to faith in Christ. His devotion to Bible study and prayer caught the attention of representatives of the ruling Eritrean People's Front for Democracy and Justice at the school. Authorities arrested him in December and took him to the secret incarceration center in Mendefera, where he was kept incommunicado. Sources say the center holds many other religious prisoners whose whereabouts were previously unknown to family members and churches. "Christians should be hugely encouraged to see how God through His Holy Spirit enables His children, even new and isolated ones like Yosief, to remain firm in their devotion to Christ no matter the circumstances," said an Open Doors team member.



Another Christian Dies in Eritrean Prison Camp