Teens caged in cargo container for Eritrea

Media invite: 1- 2:30pm, Saturday, 27 February, The International Centre, St Quentin Gate, Telford, Shropshire TF3 4JH

Over a thousand teenagers attending the Elim Pentecostal Church annual youth department’s, Serious4God, event, ‘The Gathering,’ this weekend will be invited by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) to watch a human rights film about Eritrean prisoners while caged inside a metal shipping container.

CSW’s youth programme ‘Outcry’ is showing the film to help raise awareness of the plight of some 3000 Eritreans detained without trial in horrific conditions by their Government for holding Christian beliefs. The documentary depicts the life story of one such prisoner, a gospel singer who was arrested, imprisoned and held in a cargo container like the one exhibited, for three years.

The young delegates will be invited to send a postcard of protest to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions, whose remit includes the plight of those held in Eritrea.

CSW’s National Director, Stuart Windsor said: “CSW is grateful to Elim for using the opportunity of their youth gathering to highlight the suffering of prisoners in Eritrea. It is imperative that we raise our voice in prayer and protest for the 3000 plus Christians currently detained without charge or trial in Eritrea”.

Notes to Editors:

• No unauthorised photography will be permitted at this event. Press presence, photography and interview requests must be arranged in advance with CSW’s press office please call 0208 329 0045.
• Journalists will be escorted around the exhibit by CSW staff and interviews with delegates below 18 years are not permitted without written parental permission.