Wednesday 31 May, Eritrean Embassy, White Lion Street, London N1, 2-3.45pm

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), Release Eritrea and Christian Concern for Freedom of Conscience (CCFC) will hold a protest outside the Eritrean Embassy in White Lion Street, London. The Embassy in London also functions as Eritrea's Embassy for Ireland and several Christians will be flying in from Ireland to take part in the event.

The aim of the protest is to highlight the Eritrean government's decision of 22 May 2002 to effectively outlaw denominations representing thousands of Christians, and the subsequent increase of human rights abuses in that country. The protest will call for freedom of religion and the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience in Eritrea. CSW, Release Eritrea and Release International have also organized a Prayer Concert in London on Saturday 20 May. In addition, CSW is requesting worldwide prayer for Eritrea on Sunday 21 May.

Over 1700 Christians are currently detained indefinitely and mostly without charge in Eritrea. Several have suffered mistreatment as the authorities have sought to force them to renounce their manner of worship. In at least one confirmed case a Christian leader is known to have died as a result of mistreatment in detention.

It is almost impossible for Christians from non-sanctioned churches to meet, even informally, without risking indefinite detention. One pastor was even snatched from his car while driving alone through the capital city Asmara. The regime has now become so repressive that it currently forbids meetings of groups of more than seven, even in a public area, without official authorisation.

Members of permitted churches are not immune to persecution. Most significantly, His Holiness Abune Antonios, Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, was illegally removed from office in January 2006 following government machinations, and is currently under a stringent regime of house arrest. Many fear the government may have already installed a de facto replacement for the Patriarch. On 22 April the official government news agency reported that 'His Holiness Abune Dioscoros, Head of the EOC Holy Synod', had given the traditional Easter Benedictions. In a powerful letter challenging the grounds for his dismissal Patriarch Antonios had implored Dioscoros to refrain from his 'negative activities'.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of CSW, said: "It is CSW's privilege to stand once again with Eritrean Christians as they mark the anniversary of the banning of churches in their country. The overall human rights situation in Eritrea has deteriorated markedly. It is vital that the international community takes a robust stance in regard to the serious violations that are currently underway in that country".

Notes to editors.

On 22 May 2002 the Eritrean government ordered the closure of all churches not belonging to the Orthodox, Roman Catholic or Lutheran denominations, and an end to all other religious practices except Islam.

The move came in the wake of increasing harassment of evangelical and Pentecostal denominations in particular, which the government equated to Islamists and vilified as non-indigenous, unpatriotic agents of foreign interests, who were seeking to undermine public morality and destabilise the country.

Some 1700 Christians are currently detained, for the most part, without charge. in Eritrea. In addition thousands of non-Christian detainees are also imprisoned in Eritrea. Many prisoners have experienced torture. Worse still, unconfirmed reports are emerging indicating that some detainees, including Christians, may have been killed extra-judicially.

Two thirds of Eritreans rely on food aid to survive, and the country is currently experiencing drought. Nevertheless, in September 2005 the government slashed the number of recipients of free food aid by 95 percent, ostensibly to end 'a dangerous culture of dependency'. It has also expelled key humanitarian NGOs and is currently allowing donated food aid to rot in storage facilities, despite appeals from UN officials and other international actors.

Christian and non-Christian Eritrean youths, who see no future for themselves in the heavily militarized Eritrean society, are fleeing the country in increasing numbers. Unfortunately, instead of finding sanctuary, they face further hardship and discrimination in the countries to which they have fled.