Security forces beat up Ethiopian Muslims as they celebrate Eid

ESAT News (September 12, 2016)

Security forces have beaten up Ethiopian Muslims in Gondar as they were celebrating Eid-Al-Adha on Monday. The laity were attacked by the Agazi forces, the fearsome special forces of the regime as, they were expressing solidarity with the people of Amhara and Oromo regions, who have been protesting against the tyrannical regime.

Security forces have also detained several numbers of the laity, according to sources.

Similarly, Muslims in Dire Dawa and Aweday, two commercial towns in Eastern Ethiopia were assaulted by security forces on Monday as they celebrated the 1437th Eid-Al-Adha. The residents denounced the regime on the occasion and called on the regime to immediately cease arresting and killing of citizens for simply demanding their political and economic rights. Ethiopian Muslims residing in Saudi Arabia have also denounced the regime for violating religious and other rights of the people.

In a related story, leaders of the Ethiopian Muslim Arbitration Committee, who were released from jail over the weekend, called on all Ethiopians to stand in unison regardless of ethnic and religious background in the struggle to restore justice in the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Committee expressed sorrow over the death and imprisonment of protesters and warned the regime that military action against peaceful citizens in the name of keeping peace is not the solution. The statement said no amount of force would stop the people from reclaiming their freedom.

Yusuf Getachew, a journalist jailed for over four years with members of the Committee and also released over the weekend meanwhile told ESAT that he shouldn’t have been thrown to jail in the first place for doing his job as a journalist.

Members of the Arbitration Committee, who campaigned against regime’s interference in their religious affairs, were put behind bars four years ago under the country’s anti-terrorism law that the regime uses to stifle dissent and muzzle the press.

Over the weekend the regime released the prisoners of conscience saying their demand for pardon was approved by the president. Yusuf, however, told ESAT that none of the released prisoners asked for clemency.
Scores of journalists still remain in jail in Ethiopia under the country’s anti-terrorism law, including award winning journalists Eskinder Nega and Wubishet Taye.