Pastor Tesfay Siyum, a founder of the Meserete Kristos Church in Eritrea who served more than a decade in prison for his faith, was denied burial for two weeks after his death in April because he did not belong to a state-recognized religion.

His life and death are reminders of the persecution of Christians in Eritrea, which was part of Ethiopia until 1993.

A founder of one of the Mennonite congregations in Eritrea, Tesfay was a dedicated believer willing to suffer for his faith. He spent more than 10 years in prison and was released two months ago.

Despite receiving treatment at Dembe Sembel Hospital in Eritrea, he died April 8 in Asmara and, because of his faith, could not be buried until April 22.

The government of Eritrea recognizes four religious affiliations: Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Catholic, Evangelical Lutheran and Sunni Islam. Followers of other religions are subject to arrest, deportation and isolation.

Burials are supposed to take place as soon as possible in Eritrea, but his family was denied permission for 14 days.

Pastor Tesfay was in his 60s, married and the father of one child. Originally from Ethiopia, he had asked his fiancee, who was living in Eritrea, to marry him a month before his graduation from Meserete Kristos Seminary in Ethiopia in 1990. Due to political unrest, he never returned for graduation.