Introduction and Background
Eritrea is a country where religion is both widespread and tightly controlled. While the constitution—never implemented—guarantees freedom of belief, the reality is that the government exercises sweeping authority over religious practice. Both Christians and Muslims face restrictions, with the state recognising only a handful of official denominations and criminalising others.

The government presents its policies as necessary for unity and stability, but in practice they amount to systematic repression. Believers outside the state‑approved institutions face harassment, imprisonment, and persecution. Religion, far from being a private right, is treated as a potential threat to the regime’s authority.


State Control of Religion
Eritrea officially recognises only four religious groups: the Eritrean Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and Sunni Islam. All others are required to register, but applications are almost never approved. This leaves members of unrecognised denominations—such as Pentecostals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and certain Muslim groups—vulnerable to arrest.

The recognised institutions themselves are not exempt from state interference. Leaders are appointed or removed by government authorities, and sermons are closely monitored. Religious institutions are compelled to echo official narratives, reducing their independence. Even charitable work by religious groups is curtailed, as the state seeks to control social influence.


Persecution of Christians
Among Christians, members of evangelical and Pentecostal churches are frequent targets of persecution. Congregations that gather in private homes are raided, and worshippers—including women and children—are detained. Some prisoners are held for years without trial, often in inhumane conditions.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have faced particularly severe repression. They are denied basic rights such as access to identity documents and employment. Many have been imprisoned for refusing military service, in line with their religious convictions.

Even within the recognised Orthodox Church, dissenters face punishment. Clergy who resist government interference or call for reform are silenced, and some have been detained.


Restrictions on Muslims
Eritrea’s Muslim community, predominantly Sunni, is also subject to tight control. The government appoints the Mufti and monitors religious schools and sermons. Independent Islamic organisations are banned, and individuals suspected of links to foreign or reformist Islamic movements are targeted for arrest.

During times of political tension, Muslims have been collectively punished, with communities accused of harbouring dissent. Religious education is strictly limited, and foreign funding for Islamic institutions is prohibited. These measures, justified as counter‑extremism, in practice serve to suppress genuine religious expression and maintain state dominance.


Consequences, Accountability, and Conclusion
The restrictions on Christians and Muslims alike undermine social cohesion and deny Eritreans a fundamental human right: the freedom to believe and worship according to conscience. Families are torn apart when members are jailed for their faith, and young people lose access to spiritual and communal life.

International human rights standards—including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—protect the right to religious freedom, yet Eritrea continues to flout these obligations.

Key steps are necessary:
- Release of religious prisoners: including those detained for years without trial.
- End state interference: allow recognised religious bodies to appoint their own leaders.
- Recognition of diversity: permit unregistered denominations to operate freely.
- International engagement: maintain pressure through advocacy, sanctions, and asylum protections for persecuted believers.

Until Eritrea reforms its approach, Christians and Muslims will remain subject to arbitrary control and persecution. Yet, the resilience of worshippers who continue to practise in secret testifies to the enduring strength of faith under repression.