Council, students urge government to investigate, take measures against blasphemous act at Debub University By Z. M., Hahu Contributor in Addis Ababa Source: ENA
April 11-2006 - The Oromia Islamic Affairs Council, peace-loving students of the Addis Ababa University as well as Muslim students of the Kotebe College of Teachers Education urged the government to take appropriate measures against a student of the Debub University who is apprehended while committing a blasphemous offence undermining the religion of Islam.
In statements they separately sent to ENA over the week, the Council and the students said they will not allow the freedom and equality of religion enshrined in the Federal Constitution to be undermined by anti-peace elements.
According to a statement the Oromia Islamic Affairs Council issued, the student who committed the blasphemous act has been arrested.
The Council said the fact that the student committed such a blasphemous act in a country where equality of all religions is respected and where peoples of different religions live in harmony with exemplary tolerance has angered the Muslim society in the State.
The Council demanded the government to give special attention to the issue and take appropriate legal measures against the perpetrator and launch further investigations if there is any other mission behind the offense.
Peace-loving students of the AAU on their part noted that Ethiopia is a country where peoples of various nations and nationalities as well as followers of different religions live in harmony for several centuries.
They said despite the fact that students of the University come from diverse nations and nationalities as well as different religions, they have been living with unity, equality, harmony and mutual respects through out the history of the University.
The offence committed at the Debub University seems to have a political motivation aimed at creating instability at higher learning institutions, and could not come from anyone but those who wish to see a weakened Ethiopia.
Such anti-peace acts, if left unchecked, could damage not only the teaching and learning process, but also the long-standing peaceful co-existence of peoples of the country, they said.
The added that they would do their share to bring to justice perpetrators of such evil acts.
Muslim students of the Kotebe College of Teachers' Education on their part demanded the government to investigate the incident as, they said, it might be designed to instigate violence.
They also emphasized on the need to thoroughly investigate and give appropriate solutions to religion-related problems whenever they arise at higher learning institutions.
Source: Ethiopian Herald
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