It was reported in April that Eritrea is persecuting officially recognised religious bodies, as five Christians set to be ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church were arrested.
The Christian support organisation announced that security officials in the capital, Asmara, arrested Petros Yosief, Bemnet Tesfay, Aklilu Tesfay, Ermias Hadgu and Aron Mehretu. The arrests came shortly after the church announced they would be ordained for pastoral ministry.
Authorities in Eritrea, where an estimated 1,500 Christians are languishing in prison for their faith, are holding the would-be leaders at Police Station Number 2 in Asmara.
