- Three Christian believers are reported to have died in Eritrea after an alleged torture in the past four months in the notorious military confinement, Christian rights organisation has said.
Eritrea which is notorious for its arbitrary arrests on Christians, and the government of President Isaias Afwerki having stepped up its campaign against churches it has outlawed, has close to 3,000 Christians jailed in the military prison camp.
Christians organisation, Open Doors, said the three men, Mogos Hagos Kiflom, 37 was said to have died as a result of torture he endured for refusing to recant his faith, Mehari Gebreneguse Asgedom, 42, died at the Mitire Military Confinement center from torture and complications from diabetes, while Teklesenbet Gebreab Kiflom, 36, who died while imprisoned for his faith at the Wi'a Military Confinement center was reported to have died after prison commanders refused to give him medical attention for malaria.
Open Doors said the death of three men brought the total number of Christians dying in detention centres to at least eight, saying there is a possibility of more deaths that might have gone unreported.
Eritrean church leaders said 2907 Christians are now known to be detained at Mitire Camp, located in north-west Eritrea, a new camp renowned for its abuses.
Advocacy groups claim that many more have been held in military camps, as well as shipping containers, police stations and other facilities.
Since May 2002 only the Eritrese Orthodoxe Church, the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches are the few allowed as part of government efforts to crackdown on Christian activities.
Open Doors said even within those churches allowed, leaders have complained off harassment and other forms of abuses.
Amnesty International has condemned Eritrean government for restricting freedom of religion by refusing to register other Christian movements. However, the government has denied the allegations saying it was an internal Church matter.
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