Shame on the oppressors

Ethiopian war heroes honoured but not ashamed of the discrimination and disproportion of racisms on recruiting members within Ethiopian armed force.  I have no disrespect what so ever for those individuals who honoured as a hero.  Ethiopian armed force the past or the present has policy of discrimination among its own citizens.  Once there was an email circulated around by GINBOT 7 movements that was heavily critical of the current government’s recruitment to the post within the armed force and their position as racist and biased.  However, by comparison the current armed forces are much more diverse than the previous one.  As a Muslims I just looked at it from religious prospective and Ethiopian armed forces were by far racist than anywhere on earth.  I was reading on the news just days before the article that was published on Ethiomedia, that the French armed forces was preparing a hajj trip to its military personal  to Saudi Arabia by comparison with my fellow Ethiopians its unthinkable even to be Muslim and recruited to a significant post during the previous regimes .    In fact this racist views and practises are dangerous trend to follow who ever think Ethiopia is a nation of multi ethnic and religious nation.  

I was keen to go through the names of military personals proudly published on Ethiomedia  to my surprise I found one Muslims name among more than 150 names.  The direction of the country Ethiopia seems unknown on regard to issue addressing ethnic and religious diversity.   We all knew with certainty that Ethiopian Muslims consists at list half of the Ethiopian population but why there is no mutual respect among the people of these two major religions Islam and Christianity?

I think it won’t be long before the courses of history changes in that country but for now the discrimination remain intact to those who are pleased to do so.  What so ever the oppressed will never remain oppressed but they will set themselves free.

Ethiopia, Days before Ramadan Mosque demolished detainee poisoned at police custody and died at hospital.

On Tuesday 18^th of Aug. a mosque has been demolished by local authorities in the capital Addis Ababa “kebele 60 lafto district”, one of the latest of similar incidents worrying the Muslims.

Until 1974 Ethiopia was under the direct influence of the Orthodox Church, depriving Muslims all the fundamental citizenship right as a result. A third of the resources of country were under the control of the church. Muslims, however, were not allowed to build a worship site without the consensus of the Church.  The current government has come to power and widely endorsed by oppressed nations after promising equality among various ethnics and religions of the country. Nevertheless, there is growing sentiment that the government failing in this regard as the trend of injustice and subjugation has yet to cease. Reclaim the resources, the communist regime which brought to an end the direct of the church turned into public property, the church appears to be stronger than ever. Turning deaf ear to the call from the government for mutual tolerance, the church is using all at its deposal to revive its role in the state.

Recent years growing provocations and harassments against the Muslims have been observed. They hardly made into the main outlets; even if they did they were distorted to blame the utterly voiceless Muslims. Some of the well documented incidents include the insult of our prophet, peace be up him, by a preacher at public open place at a church.  Even though Muslims complained to the government peacefully and legally to bring the perpetrator in front of justice, the Church intervened and succeeded in blocking the law from taking its course. In another incident Muslim students were fired from universities for making Hijab (headscarf) and praying Salah (compulsory Islamic prayer).  The students who peacefully protested against the ban on Hijab (headscarf) and Salah (compulsory Islamic prayer) were badly beaten. Pregnant and handicapped students were among those who hurt badly and admitted to the hospital. These and many more similar and even worse incidents remind the Muslims the old monarchies of the church which ruled the country until 1974. It is also a clear indication of the revival of their influence in the state affairs.

The abuses are not only limited to remote areas but also in the capital city. For the past 10 years alone more than 100 of incidents have been reported but none of them came to the attention of the global community

Local Muslims peacefully protested against the demolition of the mosque. Twenty nine of the Muslim protesters were detained by the police, one of them passed away in custody after they were given poisoned food.  The poisoned Muslim was taken to the hospital but too late to help him. Doctors confirmed to the family that death was as a result of the poison.

According to family sources, the young man went to the area after he heard the news of the mosque demolition .When he reaches the area the local people were already pretesting and he joined the crowd to protect the mosque from demolition, though they couldn’t save the worship place from destruction.  He was taken to the police custody with other 28 peoples.  During the demolition many of the mosque properties were looted, and the holy Quran were abused by crowds cheering the demolition.  Many suggest that this was direct order from the Orthodox Church which currently believed to set up a parallel government within the country.  Sources indicate also that the crowd who cheered the demolition came to the area after they have been informed through underground network. 

The mosque was built on 600mq land that was given (weqf) as donation.  The five years old mosque has not been controversial and was built legally. The current demolition is just a shocking surprise to the local community and Muslims all over the country at large.  Muslim Ethiopians have been short of mosques due to the gap left by the monarchies that used to allow building mosques in exceptional cases only, and after the consensus of the church. Now the hope to fill that gap is dashed, and there is a growing concern that history is repeating itself if not already.

ዜና ትዕንግርት

“ይህ ዜና በርግጥ ቁርዓንን ላነበበ ሁሉ አዲስ አይደለም ነገር ግን ባለንበት ዘመን ይህን የመሰለ ትክክለኛ የዓላህ ባርያ ማየቱ ካልሆነ በቀር”  ብሎ ነበር አንድ ወንድሜ ያወጋኝ እርሶስ ምን ይላሉ ስለዚ አስገራሚ ክስተት? እባክዎ እዚህ ይጫኑ።

ተማሪው በእስር እንደታጎረ ነው

ከአዲስ አበባ መጅሊስ ለአዲስ አበባ ፖሊስ መምርያ የተላከ ደብዳቤ 

ይህ ደብዳቤ እንደሚያሳየው የኢትዮጵያ  እስልምና ጉዳዮች ፌዴራል መጅሊስ ሳይሆን የፌዴራል መጅሊስ የስለላ ጉዳዮች ቢባል የተሻለ ሊሆን እንደሚችል አንዳችም ጥርጥር የሌለው መሆኑን የሚያረጋግጡ መረጃዎች ከዚህ በፊት ማቅረባችን ይታወቃል።  እነሆ ዛሬም ይህን ንግግራችን ለማረጋገጥ ይመስላል በንጹሃን ተማሪዎች ላይ የሚደርሰው ግፍ እንደቀጠለ ሆኖ ይባሱኑም እነዚህ ተማሪዎች የዋስ መብታቸው እንኳን እንዳይጠበቅ ይህ የካንጋሩ ፍርድቤት  የዋስ መብታቸውን አግዷል።

በተመሳሳይ ይህ እራሱን የሙስሊሙ ተወካይ እያደረገ የሚመለከተው አካል ፖሊስን መወቀሱን ጠቅሶ ፖሊስ እነዚህን ተማሪዎች አጥብቆ እንዲመረምርና ግንኙነታቸው ከማን ጋር እንደሆነ ሲገልጽ እነዚህ, ተማሪዋች ከዋህብይ ካምፕ የተላኩ ናቸው ሲል አሳውቋል ዝርዝር መረጃውን እናስከትላለን ደብዳቤውን ለማንበብ እዚህ ይጫኑ።

Sarah Obama to Hajj

Barack Obama’s paternal grandmother, Sarah Obama US President Barack Obama’s paternal grandmother, Sarah Obama, will perform hajj this year along with her son Syed Obama. According to a private TV channel, the 85-year-old Sarah and Syed Obama are scheduled to visit Dubai before traveling to Mecca for the annual pilgrimage in November.

Performing hajj is one of the most desired wishes of the US president’s randmother, the channel added. Mrs. Obama was invited by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) property tycoon Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim to perform the hajj.

“I found out that she had not been to the Hajj, and that she very much wants to go,” the Hydra Properties chief executive officer said. “As my own mother is no longer with us, our family has a spare place. So I invited her and she has accepted,” Al Fahim added. “I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Kenyan Sarah Obama, a Muslim known locally as “Mama Sarah”, is an active participant in welfare and charity programs. She lives in Kogelo, a tiny village can afford to do so. It is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah (God).

Poem to Hijabit Sisters

የጠራሁ  ሃበሻ  ባለቡና  ቀለም

ትምህርት ቤት ገባሁ ልጠቅም ሃገሬን

ከናቴ ተለየሁ ቀየርኩ እቤቴን

ለእውቀት ተስማሚም ምኖርበትን

ምወደውን ቦታ የምመኝውን

ከናት ቤት ወጥቼ ሌላ ቤት ስገባ

እኔስ መስሎኝ ነበር ሚሰጡኝ አበባ

ሀይማኖቴ የጥንት አይደለም አዲስ

አይደለም ከለሬ ጥቁር ወይ ድፍርስ

ወይም ነጭ አይደለሁ ወይ ሽንብራ ገብስ

የጠራሁ ሃበሻ ባለ ቡና ቀለም ኢትዮጵያዊት ሰው

የመለከቱኛል ጥላቻን አንግስው

በክብርም ቦታ ውርደትን ተክተው

ከቶም ሀሳብ ገባኝ አዲስ በመሆኔ

ምርጫዬ ጎድቷቸው ከቶ መሸፈኔ ?

ወይስ ሌላ ነገር ያላወኩት እኔ ?

ከቶም አዲስ አይደል ይህ የመሸፋፈኑ

በርግጥም ሀጽያትነው እራቁት ተሂዶ ፅጉር መቆነኑ

ሊኮነን ሚገባው ኢትዮጵያን ላጤኑ

ባህል ለሚያውቁ ለሚያስተነትኑ

በርግጥ ነግረኅኛል አንተ መምህሬ

ትምርት እንድጠላ ከሬትም አምርሬ

አልነበረም ከቶ መምህር ማለት

አንዱን ብቻ ወዶ ሌላውን መጥላት

በርግጥ ነበረ እንጂ ወገን አስታራቂ

የተማረ ማለት ችግሮችን ፈቶ ሁሉን አስደናቂ

በጥበብ አንጋሹ ለፍቅር ተጨናቂ

ከማንም ሳየወግን ፍትህን አርቃቂ

ከራሱ አስቀድሞ ለወገን ወዳቂ

ባመኑበት ሁሉን በትግስት ጠባቂ

ይህ ነበር እስካሁን እኔ እንደምረዳው

አስተማሪ ማለተ እኔ እስከማውቀው

ከቶ ተስፋ የለም ፍርድ ሳይሟላ

ሰው ወደፊት ሲሄድ እኛ ወደ ሁዋላ

ችኩሎች አንሁን ፍርድን ለማጉደል

ይህ ቀን ሳይለወጥ  ከቶ አይቀር በደል

ንግስናውን ጭኖ በህቴ ላይ ተንኮል

ለተቆጠበችው ክብሯ ለላቀባት

ፈጣሪንዋን ታዛዥ በምርጫዋ ሂደት

እንቅፋት አንሁን ይገባትም ክብረት

መሸፋፈን እኮ ለሷ ነው ድንቅ ውበት

ምላስም ይቆጠብ ምንናገርበት

የፍርድ ቀን ደርሶ ከምንጠየቅበት

ፍትህን እንውደድ ሀገር ታጊጥበት

ፍትህን እናብዛ ኢትዮጵያም ትኩራበት!!!

ይህ  መታሰብያነቱ  ለሁሉም  የዩኒቨርሲቲ  ሂጃቢት ተማሪ  እህቶቼ  ይሁን!!!

    ሚዛናዊ ዜና በአማል

 

Students shot in Ethiopia’s capital

In Addis Ababa Police fired on the students two shot  

 24/04/2009: Muslims students from all higher institution around the country protested against the systematic abuse by their university and college teachers.   During the protest yesterday many students were bitten by security forces and taken into custody.  Among them a pregnant student was badly beaten and taken to hospital and still remains critical.  After the mass arrest many released but still more than 100 students remains in unknown location.  According the eye witness account that the students were protesting in a very peaceful manner but the security forces interfered and began firing automatic rifles and beating them up with police bat indiscriminately many of them badly hearted and taken to hospital and also two students shot down and injured until last night their condition were unknown to their families. 

All began after the Dessie University students expelled from the university’s two campuses for their Islamic dressing cods.  For 3 consecutive years Muslim students were abused and discriminated in these two campuses eventually they were forced to take shelter inside the city’s main mosque around the university.  According to one of the students when she expressed her bitter experience within the university is simply despicable and racist.   We are simply Muslim students who practice our religious duty and our right according to the country’s constitution and we have violated none of the rules or any laws.  

Ethiopia is well known for its discrimination on Muslims however, Islam still on the growth according to the CIA fact book 2006 Muslims in the country consist almost 45-50 % of from the total population however this figure still seems lower for most.  More to come on student’s condition 

No doubt it’s a success story but what is next?

From April 10-12 NEME had its first annual conference in Goteborg Sweden.  Many of its conference organizing committees were not sure of its outcome however it was more than what has been expected.  One of the organizing committee from Sweden told me that it is simply a success stories. Despite short notice of the conference date that many participant flew to Goteborg.  Many observers said that this conference clearly indicates how much Ethiopian Muslims eagerly anticipating to organize under one umbrella organization. 

The past few years NEME has been the driving force in organizing Muslims community in every corner.  NEME creates many discussion panels for Ethiopian Muslims in recent time such as organizing tele conference, pal talk discussion form and attending other Islamic conferences in North America.  During the conference many unheard voices and unseen personalities popped up to the conference they also showed strong interest to participate in the process of strengthening NEME. For full report on the conference please click here.

The Network of Ethiopian Muslims (NEME) opened its first ever annual conference

This conference is the first of its kind in Europe when Ethiopian Muslims gathered to discuss various issues.   At the opening ceremony many of its European Muslim flew from different state nations and arrived on time even some arrived as early as Monday 3 days ahead of the conference opening.  The program was chaired by Brother Mohammed Hassan who is a veteran on the straggle of Ethiopian Muslim rights also a leading figure on the 1974 the famous Muslim demonstration which was organized by the Students which

Diversion of Muslim’s attention?

As we have been reporting for the past few weeks a progressive report indicates that the security forces in Addis Ababa have changed their strategy according to our close sources.  The strategy of arresting Muslims has been the talking point in every corner of Ethiopia particularly in Addis Ababa.  Police could not determine how the information leaked out and concluded they could not implement on the ground at this time but do not say when would be best time to do so. Nejashi oj has more report on the issues

Muslims in fear of arrest

Muslims in Addis Ababa are under siege

Muslims from all part of Ethiopia and particularly from Addis Ababa is under constant watch by big brother to be arrested at any time soon.  Last week we have alerted the underground work of preparation for the arrest of more than 100’s of Muslims scholars, business peoples and NGO’s the plan was in its final stage just waiting a command of action to be executed.  The latest information suggested foreigners who are Muslims for visit or as Islamic missionaries will be arrested and deported and such actions are already began last night by deporting few foreign individuals whom found inside the mosque within Addis Ababa. 

All young Muslims are worried they might be the target if they found anywhere in the mosque learning the Qur’an or teaching it one of the student informed me over the phone.  This latest discrimination and isolation of Muslims is not new however, the continued effort which has been planned for so long. Nejashi OJ has more detail on this latest outrage of anti-Muslims plan.

Is it a national flag carrier or is it an agent for the Orthodox Church?

For some of the countries giant institution such as Ethiopian Air lines and the national Bank of Ethiopia the continuous effort of modernizing the country’s image and portraying the sprite of unity and equality seems out of their agenda.  What agitate me to write this article was what I have watched on the TV this is what

Alert!!! Alert!!! Alert Muslims to be arrested in mass

Alert ! Alert! Muslims to be arrested in mass

The notorious Ethiopian security in full collaboration with  its agent the so called Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council (Majlis) is finalizing preparation to arrest Muslims in mass, Negashi learnt. In a move to implement a two-phase action to remove all voices that speak for Islam and its teachings, the security has listed about 110 Muslim preachers, writers, publishers, NGO leaders and soon to arrest them. The list was prepared by the federal Majlis in name but set up as a periphery to the security apparatus of the country to crack down on every thing that represents Islam and Muslims in the country. The list of Muslim intellectuals to be arrested includes distinguished scholars of comparative religion, owners and managers of Islamic publishers, and executives of some ten Muslim NGO.

 

 

Ethiopian Muslims protest hijacked by TPLF sympathizers?

ECADF published an interesting debating point regarding DC’s and surrounding areas of Ethiopian Muslims Americans and their well organized and disciplined demonstration in front of the Ethiopian embassy last Friday March 20/ 2009.  According to the article the demonstrator’s message was hijacked by TPLF cadres and their sympathizer but the article does not substitute how it was supposedly to be protested when there are grievance to serious of human rights issues.  The peaceful approach of the protester did not suited the aggressive character of other protester we normally sees and Ethiopian Muslims don’t seems to believe in such method. 

The usual Ethiopian Diasporas politics seems to be reflected on the article “my way or no way” approaches, for further readings please go nejashi blog

ETHIOPIAN MUSLIMS PROTESTED IN FRONT OF ETHIOPIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON DC

First Hijraa foundation has organized a massive protest before the Ethiopian embassy in Washington DC protesting the ongoing religious provocation on Muslims, the 2007 census and many other human right violations even though ended peacefully.  Many of the protesters expressed their concern and fears to the government of Ethiopia and hoped that the government would take measures against those fanatics who insulted the Prophet Mohammed and Islam.  They also urge the authorities to take measures on those fanatics who deliberately try to inflame the situation for their political agendas.  Among the protesters is the founder of the first hijra foundation president Mr. Nejib Mohammed and other prominent figures where participated.   Further more you can read the statment which was released from the foundation

Meanwhile the Ethiopian representatives in Washington DC invited some of the protester in meeting hall which was facilitated by the Ethiopian embassy within its premises and discussed varies issues in a very progressive and positive manner also promised to deliver the message to the authorities.  According to our sources during the protest some of the political motivated groups attempted to join the group with their antigovernment slogan however, they failed to deliver their message across. Also some sources suggest the groups were to create heat within the Ethiopian government and the protesters but it is not verified from independent sources the core motive. 

VOA has also reported from Washington DC according to the news report that hundreds of protesters participated in this massive demonstration, also interviewed Mr. Wondimu Asaminew representative from the embassy.  Mr Asaminewe has stressed that the protesters were in a very civilized manner also lesson should be learnt from this peaceful demonstration.  He also highlighted the points that brought forward from the protester.  We will update you as soon as we get the full information 

 

First Hijra’s Message

In the tradition and history of Ethiopia, a country that has been cited as a model of tolerance and peaceful coexistence especially between Christians and Muslims for over 1400 years, it is now alarming to discover that a simmering revulsion against Islam and Muslims is brewing beneath the surface. Recent events in Ethiopia have lent credence to this modern day shock-attack against Muslims by some churches wielding much power and influence in the country. If hate-mongering by ardent priests were any indication as to the weight of this dangerous phenomenon, it leaves little room for interpretation as to their source of inspiration. You can read the full statment here

Water pipe sparks Ethiopian conflict

Some 70,000 people have fled their homes in a remote part of southern Ethiopia, after a deadly conflict broke out between rival groups – apparently triggered by the construction of a new borehole. The BBC’s Elizabeth Blunt has been to visit the affected areas.

Wamo Boru and his family used to live in Kafa, one of the many small ethnic Borana communities scattered across the arid borderlands of southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya.

The hard red earth shows through the thin grass of the sun-baked landscape, a wide expanse of thorny scrub, flat-topped thorn-trees and tall red anthills.

The Borana lead a hard life, especially in the past year or two, when rains have been poor.

But the community had its livestock – cattle and camels and goats – and was expecting to have a better water supply when the Oromia regional government finished work on a new borehole in the area.

NEME statement on the ongoing religious provocations in Ethiopia

After long delay Network of Ethiopian Muslims in Europe (NEME) has released its statement on the ongoing religious provocation on Ethiopian Muslims.  Sources suggest that the delay was with the expectation of other non Islamic organizations reactions to the situation.  Unfortunately there was no action was taken from any party apart from one political organization who shared the concern of Muslims for peace, and co-existence within the country.  This sad reality of luck of good will for peace and mutual respect worries many people’s as well as NEME and eventually released its statement.  Please read its full statement

NEME 2009 CONFERENCE

Network of Ethiopian Muslims is a leading Diaspora Ethiopian Muslims organization with a mission to create an effective and sustainable Network that enables Ethiopian Muslims comes together and coordinate their activities with the view to contribute their share to the betterment of their society and their country. It strives to contribute its share towards the realization of a democratic Ethiopia where all its citizens, irrespective of their race, belief or political opinion, enjoy peace, security, freedom, justice, equal right & responsibilities in all spheres of life, be it social, economical or political.

As a means to advance this mission, the network is finalizing preparation to hold its first ever conference in Göteborg – Sweden from April 10 – 12, 2009. All Ethiopian Muslims are cordially invited to participate in this historic event. To learn more about the program, and detailed information on how to take part, please click here.

ETHIOPIAN NGO’S FACT CHECK

The sad reality of Ethiopian Muslim organizations and their activities, this over view will highlights how Ethiopian Muslims organizations have been deliberately discriminated from engaging in activities to up lift the lively hood of poor Ethiopian Muslims.  To the contrary, the special treatment of non Islamic organization and their missionaries, please watch this power point presentation which is taken from BDER 2008 annual conference Canada. Presented by Mohammed Hassen