The Eritrean authorities have released on bail 36 prisoners who had been in detention because of their faith.
According to sources, 14 of the released prisoners have been in detention for the past four years in the Dahilik island. Twenty-two others were arrested at the end of last month have also been released on bail.
The prisoners are all from Christian Evangelical and Pentecostal denominations.
In 2002 Eritrea introduced a new law that forbids all churches except fort he Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran denominations.
Sunni Islam is also officially recognized.
The Eritrean government has been releasing people imprisoned because of their religious affiliation.
In September 2020, the Eritrean government released more than 20 prisoners who had been detained for years. In December, the authorities also released 28 members of the Jehovah’s Witness group after they had served long prison terms.
According to religious freedom campaigners, many Christians still remain in detention and others are routinely arrested because their faith.
The Eritrean government has accused Pentecostal and Evangelical Christians of being instruments of foreign government.
Eritrea, a secretive, highly militarized nation, has been ruled by Isaias Afwerki since its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, with no elections or parliament and a draft constitution that has never been implemented.
