More than 100,000 people have signed up to a petition calling for Eritrea to free Christians who have been imprisoned because of their faith.

|TOP|Constant reports have emerged about Christians enduring all kinds of torturous punishments in the African country. Some even have been locked away in metal shipping containers in the searing heat of the desert, report Release International.

The petition has handed in to the Eritrean Embassy in London by representatives from Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors and Release International – all organisations serving the persecuted church, working together to demonstrate the strength of concern of Christians in the UK.

Approximately 1,800 Christians have been locked away by the military regime in Eritrea, which mistakenly associates Evangelical Christianity with political dissent, tell Release International.

110,000 people have signed the petition calling on Eritrea to set them free.

Release International’s Chief Executive Andy Dipper said, “Together we called on the Eritrean Ambassador to take urgent steps to release the Christians. We want him to make Eritrea aware of the strength of feeling in the UK and ask his government to investigate the plight of Christians imprisoned in his country for their faith.”

|AD|It has also emerged that Eritrean Christians, who have fled to a refugee camp in neighbouring Ethiopia, have described being beaten and tortured in the country. Some had been sentenced to hard labour or held underground in total darkness for days, tell Release International.

Eritrea over recent years has been closing down all Evangelical churches, and is keeping identified Christians under close surveillance. Many have been ordered to sign a letter recanting their faith, according to Release International.

Some refugees have been forced to leave their wives and children behind – and fear reprisals will be taken out against them. The alternative would have been to face indefinite detention.

Despite this open persecution, the government has claimed: “No groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion”.

Release International has said, “As increasing evidence comes to light, such claims are now more difficult to make.”

“Release International, Open Doors and CSW share a deep concern for the persecuted church. Working together means we can have an even greater impact,” said Dipper.