Senait Oqbazgi Habta (28) died on April 23 in the Sawa Military Training
Centre in Eritrea after suffering severe abuse and being denied medical
treatment for malaria and severe anemia. Senait was arrested in 2008,
along with 15 other university students, for attending a Bible study
group. She and the other students were imprisoned in large metal
shipping containers where they suffered suffocating heat during the day
and freezing temperatures at night. They were also deprived of fresh
air, sanitation and medical attention. Sawa officials reportedly offered
Senait her freedom and medical attention if she would recant her
Christian beliefs, but she refused. Camp officials eventually relented
and allowed her to be moved to the prison's medical centre. She died
shortly after her transfer, however, due to her prolonged illnesses.
(Source: Open Doors)
Pray for God's comfort, peace and encouragement for Senait's family and
friends. Pray that God will continue to strengthen imprisoned Eritrean
Christians by His grace. Pray that their persecutors will be convicted
by their testimonies of faithfulness and seek salvation in Christ.
