Pastor Released After 11 Years!

Oqbamichel Haiminot

Pastor Oqbamichel Haimanot was first arrested in 2003, resulting initially in a few weeks of detainment. In 2005, he was arrested again when a wedding was raided and over 60 Christians were taken to the Sawa military centre -- a place renowned for its brutal treatment. He was released a few months later after suffering a mental breakdown (see this page).

Pastor Oqbamichel was arrested again in October 2007 and held until his recent release. VOM contacts say he is in need of medical care. No further details are available at this point. Please pray for Pastor Oqbamichel's healing and protection.

  • Country Information

    Population
    6,274,796 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Tigrinya (50), Tigre (30), Saho (4), Afar (4) Kunama (4), Bilen (3), other (5)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (47.4), Christianity (48.8), other (3.8)

    Leader
    President Isaias Afworki (1993)

    Government type
    Presidential republic

    Legal system
    Mixed legal system of civil, customary, and Islamic religious law

    Sources: CIA World Factbook, Operation World

  • Pray for Eritrea

    Ask the Lord to provide imprisoned Eritrean believers a means of escape and a place of safe refuge. Pray for Him to also work deeply in the hearts of the country's governing officials so they will grant His people the freedom to worship Him and glorify His matchless name. Mindful of their own human frailties, may these political leaders realize the need to make Jesus their own personal Saviour and Lord by accepting His gift of eternal salvation.

Select a Region

Eritrea News

  • Christians Imprisoned for 20 Years Without Charge
    Rev G. Gebregiorgis, Kiflu Gebremeskel, Futsum Gebrenegus, Meron Gebreselasie, Tekleab Mengisteab, Haile Nayzgi
    Photos: Christian Solidarity Worldwide / Human
    Rights Concern Eritrea / Release Eritrea

    On May 23rd, 2004, Eritrean authorities arrested two pastors from the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea: Dr. Kiflu Gebremeskel and Pastor Haile Nayzgi. The arrests were made in response to a government ban instituted in 2002 against all but four of the country's religious communities. Throughout 2004, arrests continued against pastors of the banned organization, which consisted of between 120 and 150 home church congregations at the time. Pastor Meron Gebreselasie was arrested in June 2004. Then in November of that year, Dr. Futsum Gebrenegus, Dr. Tekleab Mengisteab and Rev. Gebremedhin Gebregiorgis were also detained.

    Read more...

  • Recent Passing of Imprisoned Church Leader
    Reverend Ghirmay Araya
    Reverend Ghirmay Araya
    Photo: Release Eritrea

    Reverend Ghirmay Araya was one of the founders of the Full Gospel Church in Eritrea. Under the country's oppressive regime, the denomination was banned in 2002 and its senior leaders were imprisoned in 2004. Over the decades since, thousands of other Eritreans have been imprisoned for their faith, often enduring torture and inhumane treatment.

    Read more...

  • At Least 30 Arrested at a Birthday Gathering
    A birthday cake with a candle in the shape of the numeral
     

    On January 20th, 30 Christian adults, plus an unknown number of children, were arrested in Eritrea when police raided a party that was held in celebration of an infant's first birthday. The incident took place in the capital city of Asmara at the home of a Christian couple who was hosting a gathering of family and friends to celebrate the birthday of their firstborn child.

    Read more...

  • More Christian Youth Released from Prison
    A microphone is in the foreground and an open laptop is in the background.

    In April 2023, more than 100 talented Christian young people, who are members of a musical group known as the Mahalians, were arrested after recording songs of praise which they had intended to share on YouTube. The government deemed their recording session to be an illegal church gathering. For more details, go to this page.

    Read more...

View All

Eritrea Videos

 
Eritrea: Christians Arrested Amid Latest Government Crackdown
/component/allvideoshare/category/eritrea.htm
 
Eritrea: The North Korea of Africa
/component/allvideoshare/category/eritrea.htm
 
Eritrea: Ongoing Arrests of Evangelical Christians
/component/allvideoshare/category/eritrea.htm
 
Andrew Boyd on Arrests in Eritrea
/component/allvideoshare/category/eritrea.htm
 
Eritrea: Finding Joy in Prison
/component/allvideoshare/category/eritrea.htm
 
Eritrea: Dr. Berhane Ashmelash with Greg Musselman
/component/allvideoshare/category/eritrea.htm
More