Ethiopian Police rounds up Muslims across the Country

ESAT News

August 10, 2013

After the arrest spree and crackdown on Ethiopian Muslims on Thursday, ESAT has learnt that several number of Muslims have been rounded up from Addis Abeba and other regional cities over night by Ethiopian security forces.

Thousands are believed to have been detained since Thursday. Hundreds have also reportedly been released yesterday. According to the Dimtaschen Yisema Group, five people have been killed including a pregnant mother yesterday; ESAT has not confirmed the number of dead people from other sources.  Many Ethiopian Muslims are expressing their frustration against the harassment by the government.

Our efforts to speak to government officials on the matter have not been successful.

Meanwhile, Unity of Democracy and Justice (UDJ) Party called the regime to stop the use of violence to resolve the conflict and that the perpetrators face justice. It also called for the release of those that have been detained “for requesting noninterference in their religious”.

The Party has recalled that since the past two years, it has been advising for the respect of the legitimate questions of Ethiopian Muslims, the interference in their religious affairs to stop and the problem be resolved in an absolutely peaceful manner.

Similarly, the Ethiopian Community in South Africa has strongly condemned the violent actions of Ethiopian securities on Ethiopian Muslims.