Eritrea Arrests Soldiers for Their Faith

Open Doors spoke with Mission Network News about the recent arrest of soldiers for their faith in Eritrea.

Eritrea (MNN/ODM) ? Even Eritrea's military is not exempt from the sweeps done for Christians. 

Jerry Dykstra with Open Doorstells us what happened last Saturday. "17 young men were gathered for prayer in southern Eritrea. They were apparently soldiers, and they had gathered in a prayer meeting. They were arrested, thrown in prison and moved to another Eritrean detention center."

Authorities caught up to the group in the town of Segenaite. The men serving their compulsory national military service belonged to various churches.

These arrests bring to 28 the reported number of Christians arrested for their faith since the beginning of March. The government is sending a message to believers: "They're systematically trying to force out the members of the church."   More at Mission Network News