In the midst of the worsening government-sponsored persecution on Christians in Eritrea, Eritrean Christians are calling for a worldwide day of prayer and fasting for Christians prisoners on 5th August, according to the UK-based human rights watchdog Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW).

The "Day of Christian Prisoners" was initiated by a coalition of Eritrean Christians, some of whom work underground in Eritrea, while others are living abroad (you may visit the website at www.Erishalom.com). They aim to mobilise the worldwide church to support those being persecuted in Eritrea with their prayers.

They appealed in a letter to the international community, "Throughout the Bible, whenever Christians are in any kind of difficult situation, the whole Church would pray as one without ceasing."

CSW, which has been working to make the voice of the persecuted Eritrean Christians heard around the world, has given its full support to the prayer initiative. The CSW fact-finding team has met the Eritrean refugees in a neighbouring African country and heard about their real testimony.

Christians in Eritrea, once caught praying or found in possession of Bibles or other Christian material, are often given severe punishment by the armed forces. Some refugees told CSW that they were being placed for several months in special punishment units, including one known as a "shella" which is a two metre by two metre cell that has no light.

At least one person is reported to have been left in a cramped punishment room for so long that his legs no longer functioned. Several people said that they had been told their punishment would end if they recanted their faith.

Eritrean writer Habtoum Yohannes reported that prison authorities are now offering to release Christians on the condition that they sign a document entitled "I Won’t Shine", in which they promise not to engage in any church-related activities.

It is estimated that the total number of imprisoned Christians tops 500. During the detention, they have been reported to have often been mistreated and they threatened by the armed authorities to try and make them renounce their faith.

Christian persecution over the last few years has been escalating. Christian gatherings and reading the Bible have been forbidden in Eritrea since the mid-1990s. In 2002, the government ordered the closure of all churches that were not affiliated to the Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran or Orthodox denominations, and ended all other religious practices except Islam.

Amid the severe threat on Christians, many families of young people have tried to flee the country. However, recent reports from Eritrea indicate that the authorities may be arresting these refugees.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of CSW, said, "The treatment of Christians and many others in Eritrea today is morally outrageous. The wider church must heed the call for help from our Eritrean family to stand with them in prayer."

CSW highlighted the efforts of two Eritrean brothers, who have marched from Geneva to Rome, in an attempt to seek international attention to the plight of Eritrean prisoners.

Tekle and Samuel Gebregiorgis are set to arrive in Vatican City on Wednesday, where they will present a petition to His Holiness Pope Benedict XI calling on the Pontiff to use his good offices to secure the "release of illegally detained Eritreans".

The petition also calls on the Pope to urge key members and bodies of the international community "to set up an independent commission to inspect the conditions in all the official and unofficial detention centres in the country".