Abusing the Holy Qur’an: An Offence of Far-Reaching Consequences
By Z. M., Hahu Contributor in Addis Ababa

Muslim students in several higher learning institutions across Ethiopia are protesting against the decision of the Debub University in South Ethiopia People’s State, to suspend for only two years a student who deliberately and repeatedly used the pages of the Holy Qur’an for sanitation purpose in toilet. The Muslim students are describing the offence as grave and the decision “extremely lenient”.

The University’s administration suspended the student who committed the provocative act after he was caught red-handed by Muslim students who took it up on themselves to find out the perpetrator of this ill-intended offence.

Judging by the gravity of the offence and the potential danger associated with such ill act, the Muslim students expected the university to take strict measure that would preclude the commission of similar offences again.

As news of the offence and the decision of the University spread to other higher education institutions across the country, Muslim students reacted with similar sentiments everywhere.

“A student who is caught red-handed while stealing a pair of shoe would be dismissed from the University,” said Ibrahim, a student of the Kotebe College of Teachers Education (KCTE) on the outskirt of the Capital Addis Ababa. “How could they be so lenient on an offence of grave consequences such as this?” Ibrahim wonders.

All Muslim students at KCTE were on hunger strike on Monday to put pressure on the College administration to reflect their serious concern. Similar strikes and demonstrations have also been staged at Gondar University in Amhara State and Mekele University in Tigray State, as well as in several other colleges across the nation.

Though the Muslim students are highly angered by the act, it seemed that they have, somehow, suspected a political mission behind the deliberate provocation, thus taking a cautiously peaceful move to avoid emotional reactions that may lead to disturbances in the campus.

Apart from condemning in strong terms what they described “an appalling act,” Muslim students of KCTE demanded in a four point resolution on Monday that the government investigate the background and real motive of the student who committed the offence.

They also urged the government to conduct thorough investigation and take appropriate measures against any offences related to religion committed at higher learning institutions. Their resolution has been endorsed by the students’ Council of the College that put an official seal on the hand written statement.

The South Ethiopia People’s State Islamic Affairs Supreme Council has already filed charges against the student who committed the offence.

The Muslim students suppressed their anger in order not to fall pray to the evil intents of the perpetrators of the offence. However, both the government and university administrations seem to have underestimated the looming danger of not taking the right measure. Meantime, unconfirmed reports are coming out pointing to a similar provocative act of abusing the Holy Qur’an at the Science Faculty of the Addis Ababa University late on Sunday.

Some observers out side university settings, both Muslims and Christians alike, consider the latest offence at Debub University a continuation of the recent sporadic but disorganized protests of secondary school students against the detention of leaders of the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD). Those sporadic and disorganized protests have failed to pressure the government to release jailed CUD leaders. Now, the observers believe, sympathizers of arrested CUD leaders seem to have changed tactic to create unrest across universities by provoking Muslim students.

Analysts fear that if the government fails to properly address the issue, the offenders may see it only proper to further provoke Muslims, whose reaction next time could likely be highly emotional, fierce and uncontrollable. Nobody knows what direction that might take. But one could guess an awful situation is already looming.