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| Asylum for Eritrean gospel singer | Asylum for Eritrean gospel singer |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| An Eritrean Christian gospel singer who was tortured and detained without charge for two years in her homeland has been granted asylum in Denmark. | An Eritrean Christian gospel singer who was tortured and detained without charge for two years in her homeland has been granted asylum in Denmark. |
| Helen Berhane was imprisoned inside a metal shipping container and beaten in an effort to make her recant her faith. | Helen Berhane was imprisoned inside a metal shipping container and beaten in an effort to make her recant her faith. |
| Freed in December 2006, she had taken refuge in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, before being granted asylum. | Freed in December 2006, she had taken refuge in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, before being granted asylum. |
| Ms Berhane uses a wheelchair because of severe injuries to her legs and feet sustained in prison beatings. | Ms Berhane uses a wheelchair because of severe injuries to her legs and feet sustained in prison beatings. |
| More than 90% of Eritreans belong to one of four recognised religions - Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran Churches and Islam. | More than 90% of Eritreans belong to one of four recognised religions - Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran Churches and Islam. |
| Helen Berhane is a member of the unregistered Rema Church and had just released a cassette of gospel music when she was arrested in the Eritrean capital on 13 May 2004. | |
| She was one of an estimated 2,000 members of illegal Evangelical church groups in Eritrea who have been arrested in recent years, according to the human rights group Amnesty International. | She was one of an estimated 2,000 members of illegal Evangelical church groups in Eritrea who have been arrested in recent years, according to the human rights group Amnesty International. |
| Arbitrary detention | Arbitrary detention |
| After an international campaign, she was released in December 2006 and fled with her sister to Sudan, fearing she could be killed to cover up what had happened to her at the Mai Seraw military prison camp near Asmara. | |
| Ms Berhane's daughter, Eva, who joined her in Khartoum, accompanied her to Copenhagen where the two were greeted by campaigners and well-wishers on Friday. | |
| Dr Berhane Asmelash, Director of Release Eritrea said: "We are relieved that Helen and Eva are finally safe and would like to thank everyone who has supported them." | Dr Berhane Asmelash, Director of Release Eritrea said: "We are relieved that Helen and Eva are finally safe and would like to thank everyone who has supported them." |
| "We hope that Helen will now have the peace and space to recover her health and rebuild her life." | "We hope that Helen will now have the peace and space to recover her health and rebuild her life." |
| Christian Solidarity Worldwide's Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, said: "We are thrilled that Helen has now finally found refuge for herself and her daughter after so many years of suffering." | Christian Solidarity Worldwide's Chief Executive, Mervyn Thomas, said: "We are thrilled that Helen has now finally found refuge for herself and her daughter after so many years of suffering." |
| "We cannot forget, however, that 2000 other Christians still languish in Eritrean detention centres simply for holding on to their faith," Mr Thomas said. | "We cannot forget, however, that 2000 other Christians still languish in Eritrean detention centres simply for holding on to their faith," Mr Thomas said. |