John* is an Eritrean Christian refugee. He was completing his compulsory military service when he was found worshipping in the desert along with eight others. He was arrested, sentenced to six months in a military prison, and finally released. The military police told him they would only let him live if he left his faith. He was also warned not to sing, gather with other Christians, or read the Bible, and asked to sign a letter attesting to this. But John refused to do so.

He then endured years in underground prisons, facing unspeakable torture and harassment. Over the years CSW has recorded many testimonies from refugees like John, ensuring that the Eritrean Government’s violations of the right to freedom of religion and belief are addressed by the international community.

*Names have been changed for security reasons.

This week please:

• Pray for healing and safety for Eritreans like John who have suffered appalling mistreatment on account of their faith;
• Ask God to comfort and provide for the families of Christians and thousands of others unjustly imprisoned in Eritrea;
• Pray for God to bring comfort to those whose family members and friends in unknown locations;
• Pray for the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on Eritrea, that she will keep receiving international support as she continues to highlight Eritrea’s terrible human rights record;
• On 18 December, in solidarity with the Operation 18 campaign, pray together with your small group or family for people like John who have suffered for refusing to renounce their faith;
• Pray for CSW’s Africa and Middle East Team as they work to bring cases like John’s to the attention of governments;
• Pray for governments across the world which, like Eritrea, are complicit in violations of human rights of their citizens.Pray for children caught up in religious conflict; pray for their strength, protection and growth;

Find out more about the Operation 18 campaign – call us on 0845 456 5464 to receive a campaign guide outlining the issues around religious conversion.