Ethiopia: Ramadan Of Protests As Muslims Take To Streets In Addis Ababa
By MISNA <
http://www.eurasiareview.com/author/misna/>
August 6, 2013
Clashes over the weekend between Muslims and police left an unspecified
number dead. According to some sites close to the opposition, Muslims called
for mass demonstrations to be held on Thursday, the religious day of Eid
al-Fitr that marks the end of the holy months of Ramadan, in protests
against the arrest of 28 people on terror charges.
The police accused the protesters of opening fire against them and claiming
victims among the agents. In turn, Muslim leaders accused the security
forces of dispersing various peaceful sit-ins in different cities with
hydrants and batons, leaving at least 25 dead.
Ethiopia has experienced an escalation over the past months of protests of
the Muslim community, which accuses the ruling class dominated by the Tigray
ethnic group of discrimination, as well as interference and pressures in
religious affairs. Muslims, who count 35% on a population of 85-million - in
particular accuse the Ethiopian government of imposing the election of
members of the moderate Al Ahbash group in the leadership of the National
Islamic conference, in a move to keep from key positions the more radical
Islamic figures and imams.
Received on Tue Aug 06 2013 - 16:49:27 EDT