HC Deb 31 March 2004 vol 419 c1450W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he will make to the Government of Eritrea concerning(a) the arrest of nine evangelical Christians in Asmara on 17 March and the arrest of a further six evangelical Christians in Asmara on 18 March, (b) the arrest of 10 evangelical Christians from the Full Gospel Church in Aba Shwale district, Asmara, on 23 February and (c) the continuing detention of 46 evangelical Christians arrested at the Hallelujah Church in Asmara in mid-February; [164636]

(2) what representations he will make to the Government of Eritrea concerning the torture of evangelical Christians in prisons. [164637]

Mr. Mullin

We continue to be concerned about restrictions on religious freedom in Eritrea and raise the issue with the Eritrean Government regularly. I discussed my concerns with President Isaias in Asmara on 15 January. Our ambassador was able to raise the cases highlighted in the Compass Direct report with the Eritrean Government on 29 March.

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