Ethiopian Religious Leaders Condemn the Blasphemous Act By Z. M., Hahu Contributor in Addis Ababa Source: ENA
April 16-2006 - Leaders of the four prominent religious institutions in the country said in a joint statement that the problems occurred recently at some spots of the country under the guise of religion could only be committed by individuals who do not represent any religious institution.
The leaders of the religious institutions called for law enforcement bodies to ensure the supremacy of law by investigating the offences perpetrated by those individuals.
The statement was jointly issued by high-ranking religious leaders of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, the Ethiopian Catholic Church and the Ethiopian Evangelical Mekaneyesus Church after a series of meetings in which they voiced their concern over the seriousness of the problem.
The religious leaders said in the statement that the Ethiopian people have lived for centuries in a spirit of mutual respect and tolerance and without any antagonism by resolving problems of any sort through discussion.
The development aspiration of a country could only be realized with the efforts of good-natured citizens who understand the value of work and who uphold the fear of God as the first of all wisdoms.
Yet, the religious leaders said, they sadly observe that some individuals who have no representation of any religious institution deviating from the established norm to create havoc on the development and peaceful co-existence of the nation.
Leaders of the different religious institutions in Ethiopia often meet and discuss issues that concern the nation, the statement said, adding the series of meetings held recently are conducted in the same spirit and addressed issues of peace at national and international levels.
The religious leaders said they issued the statement as part of their duty to maintain the long-standing tradition of peaceful co-existence among the Ethiopian people.
Religion teaches people to love their brethren as themselves and could never be a cause of problems among people, the statement said.
The Religious leaders also urged their fellow religious leaders in all regional states to sit together to discuss problems as they are duty-bound to resolve problems of any sort through dialogue.
They also called on law enforcement bodies to investigate and take appropriate legal measures on the offences committed by individuals. (END)
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