ASMARA, Eritrea - A wave of anti-Christian raids by security police in the small African nation of Eritrea has led to the arrest and torture of 170 Protestant Christians. Compass Direct reports that over the months of February and March, Eritrean police arrested 170 men, women and children during raids on four worship services and a wedding. Many of those arrested said they had been tortured and threatened with death while in jail for three to 15 days, but none were officially charged with a crime. Police first raided a house church meeting in the city of Adi-Quala on Feb. 16 and arrested 17 Christians. The largest group arrest occurred on March 16 when police raided another house meeting of three congregations in Asmara and forced 72 Christians into jail. The churches targeted were Pentecostal or charismatic in nature. Currently, the government of Eritrea recognizes Muslims, Catholics, Orthodox Christians and a Swedish Lutheran denomination as legitimate religions. Other Christian groups, such as the Pentecostals, are persecuted as “new religions,” said Compass.