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Ethiopia Charges 130 in Church Burning Incidents
Ethiopian government spokesman Shimelis Kemal told VOA two Christians had been killed in the incidents. In a telephone interview, he said police reinforcements had moved in and restored order.
Several US-based Christian websites say Muslim extremists burned dozens of churches near Jimma in western Oromia region over past several days
Peter Heinlein, VOA
Police in Ethiopia have arrested 130 people described as religious extremists in connection with a series of church burnings in a Muslim-majority area. Tensions are simmering in a region where Muslims and Christians have lived side by side for generations.
Several U.S.-based Christian websites say Muslim extremists burned dozens of churches near Jimma town in the western Oromia region over the past several days. The websites quote local church members as saying thousands of Muslims had joined in the burnings, and that 4,000 Christians had fled their homes in fear around the small community of Asendabo.
Ethiopian government spokesman Shimelis Kemal told VOA two Christians had been killed in the incidents. In a telephone interview, he said police reinforcements had moved in and restored order.
“In Jimma area, some extremists and some fundamentalists have instigated some people to burn a few prayer places, praying places, and this has been investigated by police and those who are suspected to have set fire on those churches have been apprehended,” he said.
Shimelis said 130 suspects had been charged with instigating religious hatred and violence.
One political activist working in Jimma, who asked not to be identified, quoted Muslim residents in the region as saying the attacks erupted after reports spread that a Christian had desecrated a Koran. That information could not be confirmed.
Attempts by VOA to reach police and local church leaders were unsuccessful Tuesday. Moga Firisa, head of the opposition Oromo Federal Democratic Movement and a native of the region, said he was conducting his own investigation. He said the burnings had occurred over a period of several days beginning late last week.
Moga said the trouble had broken out in a place known for communal harmony, where Muslim and Christian families have lived and worked together for as long as anyone can remember.
The most recent census indicates Ethiopia is about 60 percent Christian and 40 percent Muslim, though many Muslims dispute the figures. The area where the trouble broke out last week is predominantly Muslim.
dawit
March 10, 2011 at 4:09 am
If it takes to wipe the whole entire Muslim pop in Ethiopia let it be We have been leaving side by side for century. I guess thats not good enough for bin ladin symptizer i said bring it on The orthodox will wipe all of you be very afraid.
Kalleab
March 10, 2011 at 11:34 am
i was really heart broken on what had happed. what are our manners if we so called religious meant for me follow the sayings of prophet Mohammed’s and be good towards our neighbors and others. but it did not say attack and kill others.it is really shameful from those exterminates and they should be jugged properly so that another indecent did not happen. the funny thing about this indecent is that how can some on burn other church on rabish rummer. the only thing i could say to every one who read it is that tolerance appreciation of other cultures and region. in spite of every thing. for me religious conflict is a very dangerous game for me and let us all be civilized and stop cursing each other. let us not be forced by some religious person or poltican who tought us to hate each other. if you think down deep no one is diffrent on God\ Allah eyes. may peace be with Ethiopia
Anwar
March 10, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Who say 60% christyan and 40 muslim pleas let me correct you more than 60% muslim 40% christyan and pleas try to understand the correct meaning of fandametalist and extrimist
somalioz
March 10, 2011 at 8:38 pm
what one can consider the funniest story in this thread is that the person who set this news even he himself misunderstood the best way to protect the sect that he adhers[church].the words employed are showing even good faith on the part this website.what ever muslims are stronger than as some thought,but they hold respect for all even for the ill-wishers like shimelis kemal
nigga
March 10, 2011 at 9:08 pm
aye ethioipians are taking about a census that even not the african standard? if you rely on results like this one really you are fooled off,the ethiopian muslims are dominant not only the majority of total population,to tell you something else,its better if we cooperate the development of our nation instead of pursuing those who brought westerners for full cultural invasion aginst the orthodox.
gelish
March 10, 2011 at 11:24 pm
No longer possessed by possessions, we may become open enough to become possessed by God\Allah….The religion that is afraid of science dishonors God and commits suicide.
Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble.All … religions show the same disparity between belief and practice, and each is safe till it tries to exclude the rest. Test each sect by its best or its worst as you will, by its high-water mark of virtue or its low-water mark of vice. But falsehood begins when you measure the ebb of any other religion against the flood-tide of your own. There is a noble and a base side to every history.Goodwill towards all is true religion.
andy
March 11, 2011 at 3:14 am
@ anwar.
No wounder if u become 60%. If we allowed to marry our sisters we will out number u.
christian
March 11, 2011 at 6:10 am
Its those damned protestant pastors who are causing this violence
Zerihun Lemma
March 11, 2011 at 7:49 am
Hey! you fellows, the number does not matter, but the thinking. Ethiopia is a land of religeous freedom. It is a land for believers and non believers. No one should dare to impose his/her own relgion on others. Stop burning churches, as you want to save your mosques. Please, fathers and mothers keep your children away from extremists. we love each other. we don’t want to be pushed towards internal conflicts. Import love & peace to our country instead of bringing problems.
Tizita
March 11, 2011 at 7:53 am
We Ethiopians are living together for Centuries. Now a day we are going to live alone. This may be arisen from lack of knowledge, poor understanding, shortage of economic growth, and mainly because of lack of faith in what we believe, God or Allah. Please don’t proud of Number, Money, Power, Authority, and all what you have in this world, but FAITH!
Markos
March 11, 2011 at 3:43 pm
I think you people of Jimma have missed the very true respect we all have for one another regardless to our religion. We all are originated from the same human stem. Who mad you the adivocators of the Almighty God?
Here I would like to say some thing our fellow Biladin Reminants in Oromia region . You are loosers.You will never win this game. P/s be reminded that you will be payed bacck for all your deeds either soon or may be some times in the future.
yosef
March 11, 2011 at 8:06 pm
‘GODOLIYAS’
Kass
March 11, 2011 at 8:10 pm
As far as I know the current data shows and the gov’t body’s as announced on the public media:- 60% Christian and 40% Muslim. I think Mr. anwar needs to go and check it out the truth.I can’t imagine what he will going to say if he have seen 6 millions Muslim converted to Christianity every year in Africa.
Somaliwood
March 12, 2011 at 6:52 am
@kass, its apparent that ur not knoledgeable body! The date you alleged(the 2007 ethiopian population census) is really misreprensation that the elite can’t cite even for academic purposes,this data portrayed among other things that oromia population showed no increase for more than 10years,that of amharas declined,that A.A has no pop growth,that somalis are stagnant and that protstnts are few thousands and lastlay only tigrean showed pop progress….more than funny,its up to you if you accepted this drama@markos, are you employing the default notices of your church? You accepted the shielded scientology with the name of religion the godless american philosophy,you accepted protestantism for political reason to avert orthos not muslims,i agree with you that you converted 1000s of orthos even this traditional belief(orthox)is disappearing from westeren and southern ethiopia. in my last word a want say that in islam majority is not examplenary
Mohammod
March 12, 2011 at 6:48 pm
Pls God have mercy on those muslims!
Kebede Usman
March 12, 2011 at 7:38 pm
hi Mr Anwar shame on you that what you said about it, It dosen’t matter how many we are and how many they are,this is about human life
Kebede Usman
March 12, 2011 at 7:38 pm
sorry
Yonas
March 13, 2011 at 2:29 am
Let me tell you brothers.One has the right to believe whatever he wants.
No one should tell he what to believe unless he asks for it.Even God created man kind with free will.
Dont misunderstood me that I didn’t say every believe is right.I know only Gods will pre’vails. So my point is let us live irrespective of our beliefs. whether we are small or many right or wrong we all are brothers and sisters and,Ethiopians but above all we all are created by God. Let us live in this world for good and right cause, that is to give,to share,to help . Love is the ultimate solution,not hatred or writing arrogance or ignorance or …sorry…God have mercy on us.
dave
March 13, 2011 at 8:13 am
in ethiopia many muslim is converted to christian may be the rise of conflict is reason this
Gragn Ahmed
March 14, 2011 at 12:13 am
Crazy prime minister wants to stay in power by killing innocent muslims like ghadafi and blame it on terrorist muslims as if there are one. The terrorists are those evangelical christians who want to change all muslims into crazy protestants. These agents must be revealed. No wonder the prime minister elexted all evangelicals who are fanatic to convert the south muslims. We muslims are 65% and 30 percent christians. Go to Isreal if you want meles. Your days are numbered.
Workneh,
March 14, 2011 at 6:27 am
God the creator is love. He is the source of love and unity. On the other hand, Satan is the source of war and every evil. If we believe in the true God, why we fight? Please, don’t allow yourself to follow satan and his evil deeds. Ethiopia is the land of christianity. The Islam brothers would not deny this truth. In fact, Ethiopian Christians,(Orthodox church, Ethiopian Catholic Church and Ethiopian evangelical churches)are not believing to promote their religion through war but by love. They believe the loving God but not the killing and burning god.
TG
March 15, 2011 at 8:30 am
Dear all,
It is amazing hearing what all of you are saying……. Don’t you get it…we are Ethiopians regardless of our relgion…. regardless of our ethinc group……. Plus it is human life which is at stake…and yet you are concerned about numbers…… there are people’s dying, it is humans who lost there house and life…… and yet you think of the damen numbers and the PM menamen….
Sorry…. if you are real Ethiopian i’m sure you didn’t say such a thing….. if Muslims are 65% and the others are 35%…does that give the right to kill people….. Is that so???? Ha…Killing your own fellow citizen???…. Is that what you understand of being an Ethiopian……?????…… That is not…. we have been living together for the last many humderd years after the introduction of Muslim in the 12 century in Ethiopia….. But now…… folks who have no idea of the history of Ethiopia….saying such a silly thing…. Plus when the protestant tries to change the Muslims or any one…. they didn’t burn a house or kill, they tell you what they belive….as far as my knowlegde is concerned….If you think you can do that as a muslim, do it the civilized way….Not by creating a distruction…and abusing our unity……
Fellows, lets think and act the civilized way….we are Brothers and Sisters….One family no matter what…Have a life in one land…Mama Ethiopia….. lets fight those who wants to creat tenstion and conflict among us……
God Bless Ethiopia !!!
Yesunegn
March 15, 2011 at 12:24 pm
all muslims are stranger for our land it’s known internationaly, so how can they will be the owner of land? we ethiopian accept them and give willing to live in our land before the begining.their prophet himself obey them don’t touch ethiopians because ethiopians gave favor to the prophet and his fellowers. Do ethiopian muslims know this?
Habesha
March 16, 2011 at 5:13 pm
Yesunegn,
Are u a history measure. Where did u get that all muslims are stranger was it because of 20 people migrated to Axum(not contemporary Ethiopia which was established just 100 yrs ago). How about your Coptic christian religion. The Egyptian/Syrian brought this religion in 4th century. So by the same token you are stranger too and its known internationally.
Don’t think like a child we all Ethiopian whether one religion come first or last. Don’t fail to the poisonous feudal and fanatic pseudo trap. Do not destroy our unity by taking side. Just judge on facts without discrimination. Understand baby.
Phyllis M. LaBranche
March 16, 2011 at 8:44 pm
So sad.
JIMMA UNIVERSITY
March 17, 2011 at 7:49 am
realy,it is agreat shemi.but,when we see the action and other manfastation of protestant very very boringas well as unexpected.even if their teaching style,their aim to expand their own religion and so on.and also muslims made agreat mistak on that moment.in reality,ethiopia is the country,home,palace as well as the origin of orthodox chiristian.not the country of muslim and protestant.all those religion is come later around 15,17 centures.please try to ask theme selves who we are?such kind of action is the indictors of back ward society.(a.y)…………….
Jigjiga univesty
March 20, 2011 at 7:00 am
I mn’t going ask you the reasons why coptics are traditional african belif rather why protestants are committed to convert everyday at least 100 of those orthox(cross worshipers). Plz wake up you orthos b4 you extinct and recognize the potential threat against ur existence ie the mekane,berhane,bla bla yesus. I don’t why ethiopian orthos became a fertile ground 4 the propagation of western funded bente…. Or melle himself a bente?
beletnet
March 21, 2011 at 8:33 am
Religion is the source of all evils Mr! Take a breath and start to think! Those who believe religion this or that sort have deep weakness of understanding the natural world around them. How a person in 21st century can believe that “God created this and that mamboo-jumboo in five days” It makes me laugh at those so called educated Christians or Muslims. I ask them, what they really studied.
Religion can be understood by any stupid being. From nomads to junk university professors because it teaches HUMAN INSTINCT. Imagine when some body loose a family member or loved one; tell them that your dead person is now in heaven. They start believing that too. All religions are garbages of one sort or another. They exploit the weakness of venerable people.
Do good to fellow human beings by using your conscious brain not fear of this or that god.
Gabitto!
beletnet
March 21, 2011 at 8:45 am
Religion is the result of fear of the unknown. It is just an INSTINCT. There is knowledge behind instinct.
From USA right wing religious demagogues to Middle Eastern mamboo-jumboo Christian & Islamic preachings. All are the same, even though they speak different languages. They exploit human fear of the unknown.
Imagine what it means to you if you have your own brain, the following: When Abram. Moses, Jesus, Mohammad were preaching their mamboo-jumboos in middle east; all people believe that “the earth is the center of the universe”. Do you still believe primitive cave mens understanding of universe? By the same logic, religion was the product of these back warded ancient people of Middle East.
Enough 4 2 day
beletnet
March 21, 2011 at 8:55 am
Which god are talking Mohammad the great? Do u still believe in heaven & hell mamboo jumboo? You must be kidding! Do you live in the Western world wearing your nomadic brain?
Ask your preacher if he or his ancestors ever have seen your so called god? I mean either Muslim or Christian Gods?
Use your brain, don’t repeat what stupid ancient nomads in middle east wrote 1000 ‘s years ago.
Gabitto
beletnet
March 21, 2011 at 8:57 am
Why u said so sad? Your picture shows the opposite. Strangers
walii
March 21, 2011 at 12:58 pm
the truth have been found after days! the Muslims in Jimma are building the burnt Churches.