A Full Gospel founding member has died in an Eritrean prison, reported CSW this week. CSW (Christian Solidarity Worldwide) is an international human rights organization which reports about religious persecution faced by Christians. It has offices in Bogotá, Brussels, Casper WY, Edinburgh, London, Kaduna, Mexico City and Washington DC.
Reportedly, Ghirmay Araya, a founding member of the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea, has died after spending almost three years in an Eritrean prison.
Araya and another church leader named Samuel Okbamichael were arrested in July 2021 and detained in the Wengel Mermera Central Criminal Investigation Centre Asmara, where seven church leaders have been held incommunicado for almost 20 years, including Full Gospel Church chairman, Reverend Haile Naizge. Both were semi-retired and in their mid-70s at the time of their arrests.
Around 400 Christians are currently estimated to be imprisoned in Eritrea, including over 200 Evangelicals and at least 150 Orthodox adherents. Among these detainees is one of Reverend Ghirmay’s sons who the NGO Release Eritrea reports has been imprisoned for the last seven years. Thirty-six Jehovah’s Witnesses are also currently detained.
The Office of Religious Affairs in Eritrea has registered four religious groups: the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Sunni Islam, the Catholic Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea (affiliated with the Lutheran World Federation). A decree requires all other religious groups to submit registration applications and to cease religious activities and services prior to approval. Religious groups must obtain government approval to build facilities for worship.