Eritrea

Advocacy, Christian prisoner of conscience

Helen was imprisoned in a container in Eritrea for over two years for her faith

After torture and persecution in Eritrea, Helen fled to Denmark

By Anna Aalbæk

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Sometimes I can't believe that this is my life: the four metal walls where we are locked up like a herd of cattle - the pain, the hunger, the fear. All because of my faith in the God who has conquered death and who has called me to share my faith with those who do not yet know him; the God I have been forbidden to believe in. I think back to a question that I have been asked many times during the months I have been in prison: "Is your faith worth this, Helen?" I breathe the heavy air, my scalp hurts, the insane woman is babbling away outside, the guards continue their rounds, and I whisper my answer: "Yes!" 

So begins "Song of the Nightingale" by Helen Berhane. A story of how she spent more than two years imprisoned in a container in her home country of Eritrea, but despite the harsh conditions she continued to worship and remain faithful to God. 

Today, over 15 years later, I'm sitting across from Helen in the Danish European Mission office as she tells me her story. Once again, Helen opens up and shares stories from a painful time. "I'm glad I've written a book because it has helped me deal with my trauma," she says. At the same time, Helen also has a lot on her mind that she wants to share with others. In the book she writes: "I have a message for those of you who are Christians and live in the free world: Don't take your freedom for granted. Use every opportunity you have to praise God every day." 

At the Danish European Mission office, Helen Berhane explains how she got through her time in prison.

Freedom is under pressure in Eritrea

Helen grew up in Eritrea, where personal freedom is under pressure. "Eritrea is a dictatorship and the regime seeks to restrict any movement that can influence young people," says Helen. "In general, no one is free. According to the government, Sunni Muslims, Catholics, Orthodox and Lutherans are free to practice their faith, but in reality, anyone who is an active believer is cracked down on. The government controls religious communities and monitors every movement. If you pray with people and privately gather people to share your faith, the authorities crack down," she explains. 

Yet Helen has been bold about her faith and actively shared the gospel with her countrymen. When I ask Helen how she dared, she mentions the verse from Romans 1:16: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God unto salvation." Paul, the author of this letter, has been a great inspiration to Helen. 

She says: "When I was little, there was a priest who taught me the faith. After that, I read the Bible every single day. And I started asking: "Who can preach the gospel?" I realized that if you're not afraid to die, like Paul, then you can preach the gospel. So I started praying, preparing myself and saying to myself 'Okay, our ancestors could evangelize without fear because they had prepared themselves to die. If I die, what can happen? - Nothing'. So I prepared myself and started preaching. I was completely confident and without fear. I am not afraid of anything. I'm not afraid that people can kill my body."

Uncompromising faith

Helen had prepared for the worst, and one day she was arrested and sent to the notorious Mai Serwa prison for long-term prisoners and hardened criminals. In the book you can read about the inhumane conditions the prisoners live in: containers that are freezing cold at night and blazing hot during the day. Fleas and lice infesting clothes and carpets. Unpredictable guards who beat and torture their victims. Yet Helen sought to be strong and to be an encouragement to her fellow prisoners. "If we keep complaining, we won't win. Instead, we have to keep praying and singing praises. Satan wants to use negative words as a weapon against us, so we must continue to praise God in all circumstances," Helen writes in the book. 


"In difficult times, I sing more. I feel the power of God. I feel all my problems disappear" - Helen Berhane


In prison, Helen wrote sermons that were smuggled around to the other containers and stubbornly stuck to praising God: "In hard times, I sing more. I feel the power of God. I feel all my problems disappear," says Helen. "I can't stop singing. Through worship, heaven opens up and it's an encouragement to others. I have been tortured because of my singing, but we don't have to compromise our faith. In the book of Daniel, we read that the king asks them to bow before the statue. But Daniel and his friends refuse, and the king and his men throw them into the fire. But Jesus is with them in the fire. We don't have to compromise," says Helen. 

The bread must be baked before it can be eaten

While reading "The Nightingale's Song", I am deeply amazed at the trust Helen has in God. During the conversation, I ask Helen if she has experienced frustration or anger towards God at times during her imprisonment or afterwards because of what happened to her. "A lot of people ask me that. But I think about it completely differently," Helen replies. 


"I have to stay, even if I get burned. Because no one can eat the bread if it's not baked" - Helen Berhane


She elaborates: "If something happens to me, I ask God: What do you want from me now? I don't ask: Why is this happening to me? It's like the bread in the oven. If I say, 'No, I don't like the heat,' God can open the oven, but I don't finish baking and pass the test. Maybe I have to wait 10 years before that happens. I have that understanding of life. So it doesn't matter what happens. I have to stay, even if I get burned. Because no one can eat the bread if it's not baked. I don't question what happens to me before God. Because he was crucified because of love for me."

Shortly after her release from Mai Serwa, Helen fled to Denmark. In Denmark, Helen has also experienced trials, but the struggle is different. "In Eritrea, the prison is very visible. In Denmark, the prison is not very visible, so it's difficult to know how to handle it. In Eritrea, you know where the battle is. In Denmark, it's more difficult to figure out. In Denmark, we are happy for our freedom, but we are not always aware of the struggle," Helen concludes. 

Lecture by Helen Berhane
Would your church or organization like to hear Helen Berhane share her testimony?
Write to info@forfulgtekristne.dk