Around 70 demonstrators from seven organisations took part in a vigil outside the Eritrean Embassy yesterday in protest at religious persecution and human rights abuses in Eritrea.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) joined members of the British Orthodox Church (BOC), Church in Chains-Ireland, Human Rights Concern-Eritrea, Release Eritrea, Release International, and Open Doors to mark the eighth year of the closure of minority churches in Eritrea, and the harassment of Christians from other denominations.

During the protest Abba Seraphim, the Metropolitan of Glastonbury, the Right Reverend Christopher Chessun, Anglican Bishop of Woolwich and Dr Berhane Asmelash of Release Eritrea presented a petition to the Eritrean Ambassador appealing "for swift and positive action to ensure the release of all prisoners of conscience and to grant full religious freedom, as guaranteed under Eritrea's commendable Constitution".

Commenting on the vigil, CSW's Team Leader for Sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Khataza Gondwe said: "It was a privilege to stand in solidarity with the Eritrean people, and we pledge to continue to do so until the situation in that country irrevocably improves, and all of Eritrea's citizens can enjoy the rights and freedoms enshrined in the nation's constitution."

Daniel Malyon from the BOC (Portsmouth) said: "This event happens yearly in London, and though it has not ended the persecutions in Eritrea, I feel that it is a moral duty to continue to stand beside the people of Eritrea"

David Turner National Coordinator of Church in Chains Ireland added: "It was a joy to stand in solidarity once again with our brothers and sisters who suffer ongoing persecution and imprisonment and to be reminded that just as the Berlin Wall fell and the evil of apartheid came to an end so a day of justice will come for the people of Eritrea." 

Dr Berhane Asmelash of Release-Eritrea thanked "all organisers and participants of the vigil on behalf of the persecuted church of Eritrea and the thousands of victims of religious persecution in the country."

Alice Jones, Advocacy Manager at Open Doors commented: "This vital prayer vigil provided the opportunity for Christians to join together, to get on their knees in prayer and on their feet in action for our brothers and sisters in Eritrea".

The CEO of Release International, said "We must continue to raise this issue before the Government representatives of Eritrea and foreign investors into Eritrea. We need to keep on praying for justice and freedom in Eritrea also."