Statement on Killings and Gross Violations of Religious Rights of Ethiopian Muslim by the Government!

By United Sidama Parties for Freedom and Justice (USPFJ)

August 8, 2013

Since 2011 the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) led current Ethiopian regime remains unlawfully brutalizing Ethiopian Muslim Community; blatantly disregarding its very constitution that provides freedom to religious beliefs. Religious rights are enshrined in the constitution under article 27 ‘Freedom of religion, Belief and Opinion’ that stipulates that:-

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include the freedom to hold or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and the freedom, either individually or in community with others, and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

2. Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-Article 2 of Article 90, believers may establish institutions of religious education and administration in order to propagate and organize their religion.

3. No one shall be subject to coercion or other means which would restrict or prevent his freedom to hold a belief of his choice.

4. Parents and legal guardians have the right to bring up their children ensuring their religious and moral education in conformity with their own convictions.

5. Freedom to express or manifest one’s religion or belief may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, peace, health, education, public morality or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, and to ensure the independence of the state from religion.

In a total disregard to the rights of religious beliefs guaranteed in the supreme law of the land, the current Ethiopian regime continues to arrest, torture, kill and terrorize the Ethiopian Muslim Community for demanding their religious Freedom; and non-involvement of the regime’s authorities in their religious affairs.

Since early 2012 the Muslim Community Moved from corner to corner in vehement rejection of the regime’s unlawful and unconstitutional plans to install a new version of Islam linked to Syria and Lebanon at the higher authority levels of national religious leadership; after facing strong reactions by the Ethiopian Muslim community against the interference of the Government in their religious affairs; the regime responded by using excessive forces at all levels. Hundreds were massacred in broad day lights and several thousands remain imprisoned for alleged violations of constitution. The scale of harassments, intimidations, repressions, suppressions, killings, torture and terror targeting Ethiopian Muslim community has reached to its peak as we speak.

Therefore, we believe that keeping silent whilst injustice is unfolding on fellow citizens would be morally inappropriate. We also believe that democratic values necessitates that, we must stand on the side of the victimized to uphold the values of freedom and democracy and justice. In particular we condemn the current massacre that is taking place since the weekend of 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th of August 2013 allover the country with particular focus in Arsi Zone at various locations. This is a manifestation of regime’s extreme brutality and lack of any respect for human lives and dignity. The ongoing systematic abuses of power by the incumbent regime against Ethiopian Muslim Community in particular and all Ethiopian nations and nationalities in general must stop immediately!! 

We feel the pain being felt by the Muslim Community, because the Sidama people have been victimized by the current regime for demanding their fundamental rights time and again. We know how it feels like to be killed, arrested, tortured, intimidated and terrorized whilst demanding the constitutional rights that are enshrined in the supreme law of the land. Therefore, the Sidama community empathizes with the pain and sufferings of Ethiopian Muslim Community.

The USPFJ, therefore, categorically condemns the brutal actions of the regime against Ethiopian Muslim Community. We also demand the Ethiopian current regime to unconditionally stop interfering in the religious affairs of the Ethiopian Muslim and further demand it to bring those who are responsible for planning, arresting, intimidating, terrorizing and killing the Ethiopian Muslim community to an independent Justice where international observers will be its part. Finally, we ask all Ethiopian nations and nationalities to stand with the Ethiopian Muslim Community and unanimously condemn the brutal crackdown by the current regime and raise their voices together until Justice prevails on behalf of the Victims!!  

Let Ethiopian Muslim Community Decide on their religious Affairs without the involvement of government! Let the peoples of Ethiopian nations and nationalities be free and decide on their own affairs!  

United Sidama Parties for Freedom and Justice (USPFJ),

August 8, 2013