On September 27, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church celebrates the festival of Meskel. This is a national holy day with feasts and a large bonfire around which thousands gather to sing and commemorate what they believe is the discovery of actual cross of Christ in the fourth century.
While the majority of Ethiopia's population is Ethiopian Orthodox, Islam is growing rapidly in many areas, particularly in the southwest. Intent on stopping this feast which takes place during the Muslim fast of Ramadan, Muslims planned protests against the celebration. In the town of Denbee, 405 km southwest of Addis Ababa, the protests turned deadly and as many as nine people were killed in the violence. According to VOMC sources in Ethiopia, the violence started when an Orthodox woman and her son were killed for refusing to recant their faith. In retaliation, the woman's husband killed four Muslim men. This reciprocal attack led to escalating violence against all Christians. Many of those suffering are not Orthodox and have nothing to do with the Meskel celebration.
Hundreds of Christians have since been attacked. Reports state that more than fifteen hundred members from the evangelical Kalehiwot ("Word of Life") denomination have been displaced from their homes. Five churches in the area were burned: three Kalehiwot, one Lutheran and one Catholic. Five Kalehiwot churches were confiscated and turned into mosques. More than 750 believers were kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam after being starved for four days. Property has been confiscated, Muslim men are forcing Christian girls to marry them and believers are being forced to ingest a traditional narcotic drug. The Ethiopian military has since moved into the area to prevent further violence and is restricting all travel into the region.
In a further incident in southwest Ethiopia on October 8, Muslims burned the Full Gospel Church in the town of Kober, near Begge as well as setting fire to the house of a Christian, Isaac Bayou (26). The next day, a Full Gospel Church in Begge was also burned. VOMC sources are continuing to monitor the situation and further reports will be forthcoming as they become available.
While the initial violence initiated by Muslims and then reciprocated by Orthodox Church members is regrettable, the devastating attacks by Muslims against Christians who have no association with either group are deplorable and go far beyond retaliation. Apparently local Muslims are using the situation as an attempt to rid the area of all Christians.
Ask God to give wisdom to those in authority so that residents in the region will be able to live quietly and peacefully together (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Pray that the displaced and suffering believers will know that the Good Shepherd walks with them through this terrible ordeal (Psalm 23). Pray that those forced from their homes will be able to return.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Ethiopia, click here. The persecution of Christians is featured in the October edition of VOMC's new video "Persecution Report" available on our home page. The October edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter features testimonies of Christians in Ethiopia suffering for their faith. To subscribe to this free monthly newsletter, click here. Those who subscribe will be able to read the feature article online. Sorry, but this publication is sent free only to Canadian addresses. Contact our office for pricing for international subscriptions.
Population
