Pastor Oqbamichel Haiminot, senior pastor of the Kale Hiwot (Word of Life) Church became the first senior Eritrean church leader to be imprisoned for his Christian activities in 2003. At that time, he spent a few weeks in prison.
In January 2005 while participating in a wedding ceremony, Pastor Oqbamichel, the bride and groom along with 66 other evangelicals, were all arrested. Government officials told relatives the group had been taken to the Sawa military centre for “military punishment.”