The North African country Eritrea has detained more than 200 Christians in an operation said to be the worst of its kind.
Eritrean security forces captured evangelicals and members of minority churches from the streets, their workplaces and homes Oct. 3, reported the British group Release Eritrea.
The whereabouts of the Christians is unknown.
Authorities also shut down a church's development project and detained its entire staff. The project includes an extensive emergency aid and feeding program.
Among the detainees are the general secretary of the project, identified only as Mr. Ukbay, and his administrator, Ghebre Michael.
Release Eritrea said that in addition to the safety of the detainees, they are concerned about the well-being of the families left behind.
Our source said, "Please remember that in many homes children and women are suffering and have also becomes victims of persecution. There will be no salary coming into many homes and their lives are in danger. Please pray for us."
Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year war, has been designated by the U.S. as a "country of particular concern" for severe and ongoing violations of religious freedom.
As a result, the State Department notified Congress two weeks ago that the secretary of state banned commercial export of certain defense articles to Eritrea.
In 2002, the PFDJ, Eritrea's ruling party, ordered the closure of all churches not belonging to the Orthodox, Roman Catholic or Evangelical Lutheran denominations.
At least 36 churches have been closed, and many members and their leaders have been imprisoned, harassed and tortured, Release Eritrea said.
The government has issued several blanket denials, insisting "no groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion" and that people were "free to worship according to their wish."
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