Oppression

“Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.” – Isaiah 3:12

One of the most oppressive countries is Eritrea. Eritrea has been ruled by its unelected president, Isaias Afewerki, since independence in 1993, with no legislature, no independent civil society organizations, and no independent judiciary. The transitional constitution, which guarantees civil rights, has never been implemented—removing all checks on Isaias’s arbitrary rule.

Thousands of prisoners languish in the country’s extensive prison network, held in overcrowded places of detention with inadequate food, water, and medical care. Many are held incommunicado and detained indefinitely, denied basic due process rights, without access to legal counsel, judicial review, or family visits, some for decades.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has stated that the human rights situation in Eritrea remains dire and shows no sign of improvement.

The Lord will judge those who were placed in authority.

“The rulers shall therefore come face to face with an angry God and shall have the sentence of judgment passed upon them for such conduct. This statement is true not only with reference to the leaders of Israel but to those public officials of all nations who abuse the rights and prerogatives of their offices.” – David Cooper

“Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” – Matthew 15:14