December 11, 2009
Source: BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8407704.stm
Thirty elderly women have been arrested in Eritrea while praying together, one of their relatives living in the United States has told the BBC.
Requesting anonymity, she said she only found out about her mother when she phoned to speak to her this week.
Most of the women belonged to an outlawed evangelical group.
The government recognises only four faiths - Islam, Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran - and bans gatherings of more than five people.
Eritrea's information minister told Reuters news agency he was not aware of the weekend arrests.