Helen Berhane, 30, is a well known gospel singer in Eritrea, particularly popular with young people. On 13 May 2004, shortly after she released an album of Christian music, Helen was arrested when she refused to sign a document pledging to end all participation in Christian activities, effectively forcing her to abandon her prohibited evangelical faith and music.Since this date Helen has been detained at Mai Serwa military camp, north of the capital Asmara. Helen has spent most of her time in detention in a metal shipping container, suffocating hot during the day and freezing cold at night. Despite promises of release if she abandons her faith and religious singing, Helen has persistently refused to do so.

Helen is a member of the Rema church, one of several minority Christian churches not officially recognized by the state of Eritrea. She is one of almost 150 women members of banned evangelical churches who have been detained without charge or trial on account of their religious beliefs. In May 2002 the government of Eritrea ordered the closure of all churches except those representing four recognised faiths - Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Islam. This followed the establishment of a compulsory registration scheme for all religious organisations under the Department for Religious Affairs. Though minority churches were reportedly willing to comply with these demands the process was fraught with difficulties and so most were unable to do so. Arrests of members of unauthorised minority religions followed, including many children.

The Marxist-style government of President Isaias Afewerki is systematically closing down evangelical and Pentecostal churches, imprisoning and torturing leaders and believers, and harassing the families of individual Christians. It is estimated that up to 1800 Christians are currently among the thousands of Eritreans held indefinitely without charge, in detention centres where beatings and torture occur routinely.

At this times Helen has been held in a metal shipping container. Such containers have no washing or toilet facilities, and are swelteringly hot during the day and freezing cold at night. She is also said to have been held in an underground cell. Compass Direct, reported that a military commander had informed Helen that she would be allowed no visitors, and told her she would "rot here until you sign this paper" (a list of conditions that would effectively mean denying her faith). Compass also reported that one of Helen Berhane's guards had reported her to the camp commander after he caught her listening to a Christian programme on a small radio in her container. As punishment she was transferred to an underground cell, where she was kept chained for two weeks.


WRITE IN SUPPORT OF HELEN BERHANE AND SIGN THE PETITION TO HELP PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS IN ERITREA

Use this link:

http://www.releaseinternational.org/pages/take-action/prisoners-of-faith.php