![[AIM] Asmarino Independent Media](/images/logo/ailogo.png){kind=logo}
Free Eritrean Journalists
Dawit Habtemichael graduated from the University of Asmara in 1997, where he studied physics. He became a physics teacher at Asmara Comprehensive School , a post he held until his arrest. He began writing whilst still studying and, in 1998, founded Meqaleh with Mattewos Habteab. During the border war with Ethiopia he was supportive of the Eritrean government. Mattewos Habteab was called up for military service in June 2000 (possibly because of his work as a journalist) and Dawit became acting editor. When hostilities ended he began to write more critically, calling for the constitution to be applied, elections held and restrictions on the press lifted.
When Mattewos was arrested following the closure of the private press on 18 September 2001, Dawit spent a few days in hiding before returning to his work as a teacher. He was then arrested and taken to the First Prison, Asmara . His current whereabouts and medical condition are unknown.
Dawit is unmarried and has no children. His mother died in 2000, but his father works as an administrator in the high school in Mai Nefi, near Asmara .