Four Jehovah’s Witnesses have died in prison custody in Eritrea, with three others dying shortly after release due to their ordeal while in captivity.

A report dated October 25, 2024 and published in the NEWS section ofjw.org, the official website of Jehovah’s Witnesses, said the offence of the victims was their refusal to participate in political activities due to their Christian trained conscience that dictated political neutrality.

“Tragically, four brothers have died in prison as a result of the severe conditions they experienced, and another three have died shortly after being released,” the report lamented.

It noted that, “For the past 30 years, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Eritrea have endured severe persecution. Since 1994, more than 270 brothers and sisters have been unjustly imprisoned and even tortured for their faith. Currently, 64 are in prison, none of whom have ever been charged with or convicted of a crime.”

The report said that the persecution of Jehovah’s in the country intensified from October 25, 1994, when “the president of Eritrea, Isaias Afwerki, issued a decree revoking the citizenship of all of Jehovah’s Witnesses born in the country. This was in direct response to our brothers’ refusal to participate in political activities or perform military service. While Jehovah’s Witnesses in Eritrea had experienced a measure of opposition before 1994, the presidential decree intensified the persecution. As a result, hundreds of our brothers and sisters experienced arbitrary arrests, imprisonment, and cruel treatment over the next several decades.”

The report recalled that the release of 32 Witnesses from prison between December 2020 and February 2021 had given the impression that the situation in Eritrea would improve. “Unfortunately, this was not the case,” the report said, adding: “More than 20 Witnesses remained in prison, and arrests of our brothers and sisters continued. Then, in late September 2024, police raided a private home and arrested 25 individuals who had peacefully gathered to discuss the Bible. Among those arrested were three persons over 80 years of age, a sister who was some six months pregnant, and two minor children. The children were later released, while the adults were transferred to the Mai Serwa Prison.”

The report lamented that “those imprisoned for their faith in Eritrea are subjected to brutality and deplorable living conditions.” It quoted Brother Negede Teklemariam, who was imprisoned for 26 years, as recalling: “We were tied with ropes and endured cruel treatment by the guards, extreme physical beatings, and forced labor. . . . They were just waiting for us . . . to die.”

Even so, Jehovah’s Witnesses who happen to escape imprisonment do not enjoy much freedom. “For instance,” according to the report, “without citizenship, many have lost their jobs, their homes, and the ability to travel freely. Some have faced verbal and physical harassment from their neighbors and government officials for their Christian neutrality. Additionally, young Witnesses are prevented from receiving a full secular education since the government requires all students who wish to complete their education to enroll in military training.”

The report expressed deep sadness over the ongoing persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Eritrea but expressed confidence “that Jehovah remembers all our Eritrean brothers and sisters who have courageously stood firm in the face of decades of opposition.”

“As a united brotherhood, we pray that he will continue strengthening them as they endure these “fiery trials” of their faith,” the report concluded, quoting 1 Peter 4:12-14.