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<p>We remain concerned about the human rights situation in Eritrea, including the
arrests of religious figures such as Patriarch Abune Antonios of the Eritrean Orthodox
Tewadho Church who has been detained for over 15 years. The Prime Minister's Special
Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief raised Patriarch Abune Antonios' case with
the Eritrean Ambassador on 20 May, and our Ambassador in Asmara tweeted to call for
the Patriarch and others detained for their faith to be released.</p><p>The UK Government
takes every opportunity to voice our concern about arbitrary arrests and detentions
in Eritrea on the basis of religion or belief, and have called for release of such
worshippers. We have done so directly with the Government of Eritrea and publicly
- through our annual reporting on human rights and at the UN Human Rights Council.
The UK raised Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Eritrea in a statement by the
UK's International Ambassador for Human Rights, Rita French, at the 46th Session of
the Human Rights Council. We also encouraged Eritrea to make progress on their commitment
to the Universal Periodic Review process including the promotion of FoRB. Eritrea
remains a priority country under our annual human rights reporting, and we will continue
to monitor the situation there. I raised human rights when I met the Eritrean Ambassador
to the UK on 16 March.</p><p> </p>
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