The East African country of Eritrea has been ranked as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for being a follower of Jesus.

A 3 July report by UK-based Release International, an organisation that covers the persecuted Church worldwide, states that at least 218 Christians had been arrested in Eritrea within the past 12 months, many of them women and children.

“This latest crackdown means that around 400 Christians are currently imprisoned – indefinitely, without trial or charge – because of their faith,” the report states. It highlights that between January and May this year, 110 Christians were seized.

“In the last round of arrests some children have been arrested with their parents, and in some cases the whole family is in prison,” said Dr. Berhane Asmelash, a former prisoner of faith, and local partner for Release International.

“We are very concerned for the physical and mental wellbeing of the children, some of whom are only two years old. This is totally unacceptable, and we strongly condemn this inhuman act by the Eritrean government,” he said.

Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after 30 years of war. The former leader of the independence movement, Isaias Afwerki, has since ruled the country in a way that has amounted to a totalitarian dictatorship.

Afwerki initially led the country towards democratic governance, but then became increasingly authoritarian, with religions and Churches paying a heavy price.