| « Updated; 39 Ethiopians Accused Of Taxi Bribery in Washington DC (VIDEO) | Discovery in Ethiopia Casts Light on Human Origins » |
Muslim Mob Severely Injured Three Christians,Ransacked Two Churches in Ethiopia
International Christian Concern:- International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on September 11, 2009, a Muslim mob severely injured three Christians and ransacked two churches in Senbete, a town in the western Arsi zone of Ethiopia.
An estimated 300 Muslims ransacked Mulu Wongel Evangelical Church and set fire to church property. They also attacked the nearby home of Evangelist Gizachew, one of the church’s leaders, destroying his clothes, chairs, tables, sofa, bicycles, and TV.
The mob then marched to Kale Hiwot Evangelical Church where Christians were celebrating the Ethiopian New Year. They attacked the Christians with stones and sticks, broke the left arm of Aberash Terefe, and seriously wounded Tefera Bati and Desaleghn Eyasu. The three were taken to the nearby Kuyera hospital and were discharged after treatment. The Muslims pillaged the church’s property and caused 52,000 birr ($4,127) worth of damage.
The violence erupted after Muslim leaders called for attacks alleging that Mulatu Eyasu, a second year Bible school student, and Berhanu Abose, a farmer, desecrated the Qur’an. Sheik Hussein Mohammed, Imam Ahmed and a third unidentified Muslim leader instigated the jihad attacks. The officials of Ethiopia are searching for them but they remain at large. The police have arrested Sheik Qufa Wonjelo, Moti Motamo, Domba Atota, Sero Sheik Ahmedin, Bamudi Tulu and Bati Barasso for perpetrating the violence.
Mulatu Eyasu and Berhanu Abose are also under police custody on false allegations of desecrating the Qur’an.
ICC sources identified Bati Wetiye, Lelisso Atota and Begelo as the masterminds of the attacks. The three are prominent Muslim business owners in the nearby town of Shashamane. They encouraged the mob to enforce jihad in order to eliminate Christians from the area.
Muslims are the majority in the small town of Senbete. Muslim leaders are incensed by Muslim conversion to Christianity. Some radicals are threatening to carry out further attacks against Christians.
According to the census conducted by Ethiopia’s Central Statistical Agency in 2007, Muslims make up 33.9% of Ethiopia’s population and Christians make up 62.8%. In the past few years, there has been an increase in the radicalization of Muslims in Ethiopia mainly due to the influence of Wahhabi Islam. Wahhabi Islam, which is sponsored and spread by Saudi Arabia, teaches intolerance and violence against Christians and other non-Wahhabis. Christians living in Muslim majority regions of the country have been victims of violent attacks by Wahhabi and other radical Islamic groups.
Jonathan Racho, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa and the Middle East, said, “We strongly condemn the violent attacks against Christians and churches in Senbete. We call upon Ethiopian officials to seriously investigate the violence and bring all the perpetrators and instigators to justice. We also ask Ethiopian officials to investigate the involvement of Begelo, Lelisso Atota and Bati Wetiye in masterminding the violence. We urge Ethiopian officials to ensure the safety of Christians in Senbete and protect them from further violence.”
Please call the Ethiopian embassy in your countries and ask the Ethiopian officials to bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice and ensure the Christians’ freedom to worship in Senbete.
Ethiopian Embassies:
Country Phone Fax Email
USA (202) 274-4575 ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org
UK 020 7838 3880 020 7838 3889 ambassador@ethioembassy.org.uk
Canada 613-235-6637 613-235-4638 infoethi@magi.com
Germany 49(0)30-772-0613 030-77-20-626 emb.ethiopia@t-online.de
Source:- International Christian Concern
This entry was posted on October 3rd, 2009 at 12:04:03 am by admin and is filed under News, Church, Persecution.
Trackback address for this post
Trackback URL (right click and copy shortcut/link location)
2 comments
This remindes me the attack on orthodox christians and church in Jima. Wahabism is not only a danger for christians but genune, tolerant and moderate muslims too!!! While discussion between varies faiths is important to understand each other we all shall be aware of the way we talk about other faiths. We have to show our respect to their believe and refrain from using some words and expressions that could irritate our friends. The problem is we don't have the experiance and know how of discussing with other in rspect and tolerance. Our central objective should be to convey clearlly and respectfully our perspective not to make a convert at any cost.As I alwayes say the underlying proplem is the absence of rule of law. The default working rule is the dominant party have the upper hand. We have to be very carful and wise to work in such a hostile environment. We have to know WE ARE MINORS having no one to help us our rights respected. The religious freedom is only on paper but that doesn't mean it will not be put on the ground. Still we have to work wiselly to get the constitutional right implimented. We have to initiate multi-faith discussions and forums in evry corner of the country. Not those types which are prepared for poletical face saving. But a genune and grass root community based discussions. We have to able to make a cease fire sort of agreements with our neighbours, at local levels. Don't expect those press releases from government and high level religious leaders at Adiss to bring change in remote areas. You, and I and the community shall get envoled and find a way to rsolve the problem through discussion. In parallel work hard to build pressure on the federal government to take serious measures against those local offcials who are abusing their power. Sure they are the first responsible ones who failed to work in the way of creating mutual understanding and peaceful co-existance among different religions{minors and majors} under their rule. Sadlly they are worst than th mobs. That is the consequence of appointing officials just based on their ethnic back ground and poletical affinity but lacking the necessary conflict resolution skills. After all they are deeply in it(the conflict).
I hope we don't need to wait long to hear the next similar news. Watch out!!
Be peace makers
Do for [don't do aginst] other what you [don't] want them do for [against] you.
MY ADVISE UNDER THE CURRENT HOSTILE ENVIRONMET IS:
1. Don't talk about others but yourself.
2. Don't try to prove christianity by trying to prove Islam wrong.
3. Use the bible not the quran unless they use the bible in discussions
4. Be respectful to their believe
5. The best way to preach Jesus is not by reading the bible verses but BY LIVING IN THE BIBLE VERSES.
GOD bless you Gashu. You have really made a very nice comment which was in my heart too. Let's each of us abide by this genuine and constructive comment. Let GOD also help our "poor" country. This post has 2 feedbacks awaiting moderation...
Comment feed for this post