በበድር ዓለም አቀፍ የኢትዮጵያዊያን ሙስሊሞች ፌደሬሽን አባል ድርጅቶችና የኢትዮጵያ ሙስሊም ማህበረሰቦች በአዉሮፓ እና ሳዑዲ-አረቢያ

ሰሞኑን በአዲስ አባባ የፋጢመቱ-ዛህራ (አራዳ/አራት ኪሎ) መስጂድ መፍረስንና ህገ-መንግሰታዊ መብቶቻቸዉን ለማስከበር ሰላማዊ ሰልፍ ለማድረግ በወጡ ሙስሊም ዜጎች ላይ የፌዴራል ፖሊስ ስለአደረሰዉ የማቁሰል አደጋና የጅምላ እስራት፤ እንዲሁም በተደጋጋሚ በኢትዮጵያዊያን ሙስሊሞች ላይ እየደረሰ ያለዉን በደል፤ ከጊዜ ወደጊዜም እየተባባሰ የመጣዉን አጠቃላይ የፀረ-ኢስላም ፀረ-ሙስሊም እንቅስቃሴና የፀብ አጫሪነት ጉዳይ አስመልክቶ የተሰጠ የአቋም መግለጫ

120 Muslim Demonstrators Appeared before Court 23/08/06
120 Muslims who were arrested during the peaceful demonstration in oppositon to the demolition of Arat Kilo Mosque appeared on Monday, 21.08.06, before Arada court. Police accused them of throwing stones on police force who came to disperse the demonstrators and taking active part in the protest. The court ordered the release of all the accused with 500.00 (five hunderd) birr "wasse" for each. This is their second appearance before the same court. Last week police asked for 7 more days to gather enough information and lodge its case.

Awassa University - Ban on Hijab is Removed 23/08/06
It wasreported that the Awassa University banned Muslim Female students from attend classes, enter library, cafeteria and other offices while wearing their Islamic dress. This ban is overturned and Muslim female students may wear the cloth of their choice. In reply to a letter students wrote opposing the decision and demanding explanation, the university administration denied having issued such a ban told students that no one would ban them from wearing their Hijab.

Muslims Get Land on Which to Build a Mosque 20/08/06
Addis Ababa - the Reporters: The Addis Ababa Caretaker Administration on Thursday granted 2,200 sq.m of land to the Addis Ababa Islamic Affairs Council for building a mosque on the site in the Arada sub-city.

Members of the Muslim community on August 11 held demonstrations in the city and clashed with the police denouncing the demolishing of a building which they claimed was a mosque built near the second police station near Berhanena Selam Printing Press.

The city administration said the building was built overnight illegally by two individuals in the Arada Sub-city. According to the administration, after obtaining license for refurbishing an old house the individuals demolished the house and erected a new building. There are ownership claims on the house filed by different parties and there is a pending case at court. The administration said that the Muslim community residing around the illegally constructed building did not have a place where to pray.

Representatives of the Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Council had advised that the mosque be built on the new site.

Preparation Finalized to Successfully Accomplish Mecca Pilgrimage 20/08/06
Addis Ababa - ENA: The Supreme Council for Ethiopian Islamic Affairs said it has finalized preparation that would enable it to successfully accomplish Mecca pilgrimage this year.

Council Executives told Ethiopian News Agency on Saturday that the opening of branches in regions would benefit the Muslim community to get access to its services.

Haji and Umra Sector Head with the Council Haji Shemsu Yishak said the council has managed to provide temporary document that would provide to migrate to Mecca to over 16,000 pilgrims from June 7 to August 17, 2006. The Council called up on the pilgrims to patiently wait for their flight schedules due to be announced through the respective branch offices.

Updated - Arat Kilo Mosque: A Replacement Site is Given 19/08/06

NB. NEME has verified that the statement issued by the Addis Ababa Islamic Affairs Council on its reception of a site for building Mosque as a substitute to the demolished Arat Kilo Mosque was indeed issued by the Council. The variation in the signatures of the 1st secretary that led the Editors to doubt its authenticity remains unanswered. Please click here to have a look at them and pass your judgement. Please visit BHCP to leave your comment.

The Addis Ababa Islamic affairs executive committee has issued a statement last Friday (18.08.06) on the issue of Arat Kilo Mosque. According to this statement sent to all Mosques in the capital, the government has given a site, 2230 sq m. as a substitute to the demolished Arat kilo Mosque. The full statement of the Majlis can be accessed from here. This site different from what was proposed earlier.

Despite some sources claimed earlier that the site the Majlis announced to have received is already given to an investor, the Mejlis insists that the investment is not on the site it itself but besides it.

The very idea of “replacement” is being resisted by the majority of the Muslim community.

In the meant time, the latest information broadcasted on the local government owned TV and Radio declared that there was no Mosque at the site where Muslims blame the government authorities for destroying it. According to the media release, the site is known to the authorities as a private property, for which a licence was wrongly issued to renew it. It was made clear on this information release that nothing can be referred any further about a demolished Mosque. After the church's claim to be the legitimate owner of the site, the case of this private property will be considered on a court sitting appointed for Hidar 21, 1999 E. C. Visit BHCP to leave your comment.

Alert - Government Crackdown on Muslims 16/08/06
In its effort to silence Muslims from expressing their anger on the destruction of the Mosque at Arat Killo and demand for it to be rebuilt, the government is arresting Muslims who are suspected to have taken active part or will take active role in any future action. The place of the demolished mosque is being heavily guarded by police and all types of prayers are forbidden. A replacement site, around British Council, Piazza, in front of Billafiyya Muslim Restaurant, is proposed in its place. This is being totally rejected by Ethiopian Muslims both at home and in the Diaspora. A Mosque in Piazza can never be a solution for the demand of Muslims in Arat Killo. The offer can only be accepted because there is a shortage of praying place in and around Piazza. Above all, the very idea of "replacement" and the reason given for the Mosque in Arat Killo to be abandoned is angering Muslims and make them determined to pay all what it demands for equality of all Ethiopians and to get their freedom of worship respected.

In the mean time, NEME has received and is being studying documents that are likely to shed light on the legal ownership of the site and legality of the Mosque built on it. A report on the issue will soon be published.

የኢትዮጵያ ጠቅላይ የሸሪአ ፍርድ ቤት የሶማሊያን ዋና ከተማና አብዛኛውን የሃገሪቱ ደቡባዊ ግዛት የተቆጣጠረውን የሶማሊያ ኢስላማዊ ፍርድ ቤቶች ህብረት ማውገዙን የሚገልጽ ዜና ሳነብ ከመነሻው ያሳቀኝ ቢሆንም ማሳዘኑና ማሳፈሩ ግን አልቀረም። Negashi weblog. / click here for the PDF file.

Showdown Anger III - Muslim Protesters Clashed with Federal Police - Negashi weblog - 11/08/06

"Showdown Anger III"

Muslims in Addis has continued to express their anger on the way the government has been handling their affair. On the third "showdown anger" which Muslims has been doing every Friday since the demolition of their Mosque at Arat Killo, Muslim protesters clashed today with federal police. Several hundreds of Muslims are reported detained and many sustained wounds.

As per their continued action to express the anger following the demolition of Arat Killo mosque, Muslims stage demonstration every Friday. Muslims from all over the city headed today to the site of the demolished Mosque to perform their Friday prayer and then to join the demonstration. However, large number of Federal Police was already deployed. All roads leading to the site were closed and Muslims were prevented from reaching it. This resulted in unintended confrontation [on the part of Muslims] between the faithful and Federal Police. Negashi weblog.

Discuss on Bilal Ul-Habesha Platform

Ban on Hijab - Awassa University- Negashi weblog - 10/08/06
In a continued attack on Islam and Muslims in Ethiopia, the Awassa University banned Muslim female students from attending classes, entering library & cafeteria and other offices wearing Hijab. The ban is on every type of dressing that may appear to be close to the Islamic dress code. This however applies only to Muslims students. Negashi weblog.

"Showdown Anger II" - Muslims in Addis Demonstrated- Negashi weblog - 04/08/06

"Showdown Anger" in Picture

Muslims in Addis has continued to express their anger about the pulling down of their Mosque. They held a demonstration today and about 5000 believers participated in this second Showdown Anger - “Showdown Anger II”. This number is more than two times the number of Muslims that could take part in the last week’s demonstration.

... From the media release, it has come clear that the Majlis has joined the church and the city administration and declared that the Mosque was illegal. What has gone beyond the imagination of every Muslim is that the Mosque was demolished with full consent of the Majlis authorities. This treacherous act of the very institute that was supposed to stand for the right of the Muslims community is increasing the anger of the Muslims and making them determined to further the struggle for their right. Negashi weblog.

Latest Online Lecture Sh. Seid Ahmed - 28/07/06 Sh. Seid Ahmed - 07/07/06 Sh. M. Hamidin - 16/06/06 --Lecture ---- Q & A

2006 Badr International Ethiopian Muslims Federation Conference Washington D.C.
The 6th Badr International Ethiopian Muslims Federation Conference which was hosted by the First Hijrah Foundation in Washington D.C. has been successfully completed. The First Hijrah Community who demonstrated an excellent and welcoming attitude remained true to its name. The spacious Sheraton hotel caved in to the thousands of attendees who streamed from all over United States and Canada. While there were some glitches in allocating rooms for everyone, it was quickly resolved by booking extra rooms from the close by Holiday Inn. Read the full report >>

Not in My Name - Commentary on the briefing given by the Mejlis regarding the dev't in Somalia- Negashi weblog - 30/07/06
The allegation that the Mejlis put on the UIC has great consequence, I believe, now and in the future, for Ethiopian Muslims. It thus deserves comment and analysis. Pending detailed analysis and comment by more knowledgeable individuals and leaders of the Muslim community on the message and its implication, let me my individual comment here. Negashi weblog.

"Showdown Anger" - Muslims in Addis Demonstrated - 28/07/06
Angered by the pulling down of their Mosque in Arat killo by federal police on 25 July 2006, Muslims in Addis held a demonstration today chanting “Allahu Akbar”, “Lailah Ill Allah”. For ful report Negashi weblog.

The Ethiopian Supreme Council for Islamic Affiars (ES-CIA) issued a statement about the UIC that controls the capital and much of the Southern Somalia- 26/07/06
Read the full report from BHCP and Negashi weblog.

Federal Police Demolished the only Mosque in Arat Killo Kifle Ketema- 25/07/06
In a continued attack on Islam in Ethiopia and the values and interests of Ethiopian Muslims, the only Mosque that started to provide service to the Muslims of Arat-Killo kifle ketema is demolished.
Read the full report from BHCP and Negashi weblog.

Muslim Students Representatives of Alaga Collage Released - 24/07/06
After being unjustly detained for a number of weeks, Muslim students' representatives of Alaga collage are released. The Amir of the Muslim students, student Ilias Mekael, had to remain in prison for more days. Before he was released today, 24/07/06, with a bill of 1,000 birr, student Ilias was transferred from Alaga to Silte zone, Warabe, and detained there for some days. He was accused to have organised students of Alaga collage to oppose the government. Nevertheless, there was no any evidence presented to substantiate the claim. Even those who were called as witness, cleared him of any blame. Alhamdulillah! The national Muslim Students Jama'a has played a worth praise effort in securing the release of their brothers.

Update - Kemissie - Salafiyya weekly News paper 07/07/06 -
A Court in Kemissie, Wollo, released Muslims arrested following the problem that happened in the town. According to the news paper, there was not any charge filed against them when arrested for months.

Update - Alaga Collage

• One more Muslim student was arrested on 06/07/05
• Collage Admin./Police refused to accept the letter of the Muslim students
• Police arrested the representatives of Muslims students 05/07/2006
  Read more on there and related topics on BHCP

Opinion - Who Are the Terrorists in Somalia?

በጎንደር ከ130 አመት በላይ ግልጋሎት ሲሰጥ የኖረውና በአካባቢው ብቸኛ የሆነው የሙስሊሞች መቃብር ቦታ ለግል ባለሃብት በመሰጠቱ ተቃዉሞ ተነሳ - አንድ ሙስሊም ሞተ። 18/06/2006

 

"I am a Christian and I have been going from leader to leader among the multiple of denominations asking for help to reach my religion for Christ while I am in office. I have just over two years left in my term and I anticipate that in the next election my assistant, a dedicated Muslim will succeed me. I beleive I am here for such a time as this, to turn the history of the region towards peace and prosperity through the librating power of God." President Yaregal Aysheshim. Source: Blair Foundation. President Yaregal Aysheshim, President of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region.

Note: Blair Foundation is the one that funds the establishment of 1000 churches in the region with the vision to Christianze the entire population in two years.

Eds. comment: While such treasures of Ethiopian Muslims are being systematically eliminated, state officials are using the full power of their office to Christianize Muslims. Missionary activities in Muslim dominated regions of the country are getting its momentum. In a situation where no Muslims relief agencies (local or foreign) are allowed to operate and provide any humanitarian activity, Missionaries are getting a secured and uncontested access to Muslim areas in the name of delivering food to the hungry and undertaking humanitarian/development activities. Benishangul-Gumze, a region with a predominantly Muslims population, seems to be the latest target. What is more striking, however, is that the regional government is actively participating in this act of betrayal of the people it claims to represent. Here one wonders whether this Christianisation of Muslim under the disguise of food aid and development activity and elimination of the treasures of Ethiopian Muslims is not the policy of the country.. Read more >>

Police Opened Fire on Muslim Students of Alaga Collage Wounding one
Three students wounded by stone-thrower Christian students: 18/06/2006

On the aftermath of an injustice directed at the Muslims students of Alaga Collage, police opened fire today, 18.06.06, on Muslim students of the collage who have taken shelter in a near-by Mosque after a joint "Christian students - Collage Administration" upraisal against them. Read more on BHCP >>

Attack on Islam and Muslims Continues Latest report from Jimma zone- 15/06/2006

World Cup & Islam Islam & Soccer

In a series of unprovoked attack on Islam and Muslims in Ethiopia, the latest report of Abuse of the Quran came from Jimma Zone, Yebu town, 22 km outside of Jimma. In this latest incident, on the night of Mandy Tuesday, 12/06/06, five Christians managed to enter a mosque that is being built, urinate on the Quran and tried to burn the Mosque. It was only when Muslims from the nearby arrived that they fled away without completing the work they planned to accomplish as they left their homes. According to witnesses their escape was made possible with an apparent cover by a police officer. The next morning Muslims of the town, near by areas and Jimma town demonstrated and demand that the government take firm and uncompromised action against the enemies of tolerance and peaceful co-existence... Many believe that the insensitivity of the Government to repeated abuses of the Holy Quran first in Awassa University and later as far as in Jijiga has embolden the same crime to be perpetrated again and again. Discus on BHCP

Lawyers to appeal against the court decision - 07/06/2006
Representative the various Muslim NGO's in Addis met and discussed the issue and delibrated on how to go forward after the latest decision of a court in Awassa which declared the abuser of the Quran "innocent". At the end of a lengthy discussion, it was agreed to appoint Lawyers who will appeal to the Federal Court and follow the case. Parallel to this, delegates of the Muslim ... more on BHCP

The abuser of the Quran was released free - 02/06/2006
In its ruling on June 01, 2006, a court in Awassa has ruled that the very person who was caught red-handed while abusing the Quran was innocent and released him free. This ruling has come as a shock for those law-abding and respective Muslim students of Awassa and other Ethiopian institutions of higher learning, and the Muslim community at large. It is perceived as a day-light betryal of the course of justice in Ethiopia and the persistent biasness when it comes to Ethiopian Muslims. Given such response to the crime of international scale, many believe, that it should not come as a surpring if similar criminal acts have continued unabated in the country. To come to its ruling, the court refused to consider all the human and material witness presented to it and failed to undertake any investigation on the crime. In fact, the ruling has gone as far as fooling the Muslims, in essence made the pain even unbearable, when it tried to assert that the pages the criminal was caught using were not the pages of the Quran but some sort of Manual written in Arabic.

With this ruling, many believe, the court has done nothing but (beyond endorsing the crimes already perpetrated) institutionalized and provided legal protection to the continued crimes against Islam and Muslims. They further fear that this course of action is a dangereous route for the country to take and what Ethiopians, regardless of the religion they profess, have to be concerned with. It is to be recalled that the massive reaction after the production and publication of insuling cartons first in Denamark and later in other countries and that resulting in the unimaginably high loss of human life and material did happen only after all efforts to get justice had failed.

You may expess your feeling on this ruling on BHCP

Attack on Islam and Ethiopian Muslims continues - 25/05/2006
Ethiopia, a country with a majority of Muslim population (45 - 50%), unfortunately among those most oppressed by the minority ruling elites for centuries, has become lately a place where attacks on Islam and Muslims continue unabated. Often times, these crimes happen to take place in areas where Muslims are dominant. The latest such attack comes from Eastern Ethiopia, Jijiga - Somali Region, where a local christian-run restaurant used the pages of the Quran to wrap its product in. This happens while Muslims have not stopped crying for justice after this Holly Book was used for sanitary purpose in Ethiopian institutions of higher learning, and the act of insult and disparagement on the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) in Kemissie (Wollo).

There is another uncomfirmed report that a Mosque has been sent to fire by the Protestants in Kembata zone during the last few days. It is to be recalled that a more than 100 years of old Mosque was demolished by fanatic Christians at Dura (Axum/Tigray - Northern Ethiopia) and yet not rebuilt.

Discuss the recent crime or share you feelings/thought on the issue: BHCP

ከዶ/ር ልጅ አስፋ-ወሰን አስራተ-ካሳ በኢትዮጵያ እስልምና ጉዳዮች ጠቅላይ ጽ/ቤት በኩል ለኢትዮጵያ ሙስሊሞች የተላለፈ መልዕክት

Abusing the Holy Qur’an in Ethiopia: 12/05/06
The student who was caught red-handed while abusing the Quran, arrested and released some days later was re-arrested yesterday, 11/05/06 and appeared today in Court in Awassa. In another news, about 800 Muslim Students of Alaga Agricultural collage (60 km from Zeway) have left their campus after 3 of their Colleagues were arrested unjustly, the Collage officials refused to accept their letter of complain, and threaten them to take action if they don't keep silent, ... More is yet to be received - Discuss it on BHCP.

Ethiopian Muslims in Diaspora wrote to the President of Debub Univerisity12/05/06
Dear President Zinabu,

This letter of protest and concern is addressed to you in a unanimous and joint voice by various organizations of Ethiopian Muslims in Europe, the Middle East, and North America concerning the grave discrimination and injustice carried out by your esteemed university in dealing with the recent flagrant aggression and violation of the constitutional religious rights of all Muslims in general and the Debub University Muslim community in particular. read the full letter // discuss on BHCP.

Update: Abusing the Holy Qur’an in Ethiopia: 25/04/06

Call for rapid investigation of the Qur’an desecration in Ethiopia.

Sign the Petition

NEME has learnt that the very person who was red-handed while using the Quran for sanitary purpose is now freed. The situation how and why he was released is not clear. It was said that the case is of Federal nature for which reason the criminal had to be transferred from Awassa only to find himself freed once he arrived in Addis. In a related update, the authorities at Awassa University has continued threatening Muslim Students with disciplinary action who in reality deserve great prize for their exceptionally mature and unique handling of the otherwise sensitive issue. They are further trying to fan conflicts between Muslim and Christian students of the campus claiming that some Christian students were insulted and beaten by the Muslim students. Join the discussion on BHCP (Bilal ul-Habasha Community Platform).

Badr International Ethiopian Muslims Federation Statement Regarding the Desecrations of the Holy Qura’n in Higher Learning Institutions, Ethiopia: 24/04/06
Badr International Ethiopian Muslims Federations strongly condemns the desecration of the Holley Qura’n in various higher learning institutions in Ethiopia. These outrageous, deplorable and irresponsible acts of basic human rights violation against Ethiopian Muslims should not be tolerated. Obviously, the action is a clear violation of the Ethiopian Constitution which upholds the right of its citizen’s faith to be respected. read the full statement

NEME's Statement on the Abuse of Quran in Ethiopia: 23/04/06

The Network of Ethiopian Muslims in Europe is deeply saddened and immensely grieved by the desecration in various Ethiopian Universities of the Holly Quran. The awful act started when evil inspired individuals in Debub/Awassa University deliberately used the pages of the Holly Quran for sanitation purpose. The desecration of the Quran then continued to Addis Ababa University and possibly to other universities across the country.
.....

The Network of Ethiopian Muslims in Europe condemns with strongest terms this awful and insipid deed committed by irresponsible individuals and /or groups. We further call upon all peace-loving people to join hands with us and demand without delay:

• for the case to be given the maximum attention of the government and be investigated thoroughly,
  
  
• to take appropriate legal measure that would deliver a fitting and exemplary punishment on those who have committed the heinous crime.

Finally we would like to reiterate that, given the gravity of the case as well as its international significance, failure to address the issue would lead our society and the country to unwarranted consequence. read the full statement

Ethiopian Religious Leaders Condemn the Blasphemous Act: 16/04/06
Addis Ababa - 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. read further

Ethiopian Muslims in the Diaspora Discussed the Abuse of the Holy Qur’an 15/04/06

Angry yet quite disciplined Muslim students of Addis Ababa University staged a demonstration on 04/04/06 in protest to the abuse of the Quran in their campuses and Awassa University. Photo from aljazeera.net which carries a report in Arabic covering the issue.

NEME: Ethiopian Muslims in the Diaspora met online on 14.04.06 to discuss the abuse of the Quran in Ethiopia. At the discussion forum specially prepared to discuss the issue, guest speakers from Awassa and Addis Ababa universities and from Addis Ababa Muslim Community provided the participants with up-to-date and first-hand information on what happened, how it happened, what has been done so far, what is being done and what needs to be done. Before the live interview, pre-recorded interview made with representatives from the National and Regional offices of the Islamic Affairs were played.

During the open discussion that followed the live interview, participants expressed their anger on this despicable action, analysed the issue from various perspectives and expressed the need to support the Muslims at home in their effort for the case to get due attention, and be investigated thoroughly and those found guilty of the crime receive exemplary punishment. The discussion further brought to forth basic issues of the right of Ethiopian Muslims: their role in the day to day affairs of the country, their representation in various capacities, the performance and structure of the Majlis, ... The way the issue was handled specially by the Muslim Students was one that received high appreciation. It is a reflection of the centuries old role of the Muslim Community in maintaining peaceful co-existence in that country.

The discussion was moreover one when participants expressed their disappointment on the insensitiveness on the issue of the Christian Community both at home and abroad and the media.

Audio's: Attack on Islam

• Interview with the vice President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs - Addis Ababa, 12.04.06

Kemmise

• Audio -Interview with Usthaz Abubeker A. on the case in Kemmise - Wollo - Dessie 14.04.06

Awassa + AA Universities

• Interview with the Chairman of the Southern Ethiopia Islamic Affairs - Awassa 12.04.06
• Audio - Awassa University, 14.04.06
• Audio - Addis Ababa University, 14.04.06
• Audio - Addis Ababa Muslim Community, 14.04.06 (yet to come)

Full coverage from Negashi Ethiopian Muslims Radio