Letter from NGOs to Eritrean Head of Mission Salih Abdalla

Mr Salih Abdalla

Head of Mission

Embassy of Eritrea in United Kingdom & Ireland

96 White Lion Street

London N1 9PF

29 May 2025

Dear Mr Abdalla

We extend our warmest regards to the people of Eritrea as your nation marks its 32^nd year of independence.

We are saddened, however, by the reality that Eritrean citizens still do not enjoy the full dividends of independence for which so much was sacrificed by so many, and are yet to access the rights and fundamental freedoms articulated in the unimplemented Constitution.

This month also marks the 24^th year since all but three of Eritrea’s Christian denominations were proscribed. We are appealing, once again, for your government to reverse this decision, and to fulfil the right to freedom of religion or belief for all faith communities, in accordance with Eritrea’s obligations under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 8 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

We remain deeply concerned by the ongoing campaign of arbitrary and indefinite detention that has targeted members of the Christian community since May 2002, hundreds of whom are currently languishing in harsh, often life-threatening conditions. We remember in particular, the six senior church leaders who are beginning their 21^styear in incommunicado detention without charge or trial, and a seventh who is marking his 20^th year of similar incarceration.

We are dismayed that there is still no discernible improvement in the plight of the tens of thousands of individuals who are detained arbitrarily for peaceably expressing religious or political views.

We therefore reiterate our call for your government to release every prisoner of conscience unconditionally, beginning with those detained for excessive periods without charge, trial or access to their families.

Yours sincerely