In the darkened office of his church, the preacher recalls how he was tortured...His crime, in the eyes of Eritrea's authorities, was twofold: he preached in a country where religious freedom is restricted, holding clandestine prayer sessions with congregants; and he resisted compulsory military conscription.
Their testimony offers a rare glimpse into the vast gulag system operated by Eritrea, one of the world's most repressive single-party states. They describe beatings, stress positions and other mistreatment, as well as unsanitary conditions, forced labour, desperate breakout attempts and deaths at detention facilities across the country.
Eritrea has earned a reputation as the North Korea of Africa. Since it gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, it has never held a general election or implemented a constitution.
Its ruler, Isaias Afwerki, who became president after leading the liberation struggle, has banned opposition parties, independent media and civil society groups. Foreign journalists are not allowed to enter unless they agree to report positively.
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