Abiy has introduced sweeping political and economic reforms, which have won him international praise, culminating in the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for peacemaking efforts with long-time enemy Eritrea. But the reforms have also stoked ethnic and religious tensions as regional strongmen have been emboldened to compete over influence and resources.
PM Abiy condemns
Abiy condemned the violence on Saturday and said he would not allow extremists to tarnish Ethiopia’s history of religious tolerance. He urged called on citizens to reject hateful agendas.
State-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported Saturday a number of mosques had been attacked and that “other properties were destroyed” in Mota town, more than 350 kilometers (217 miles) north of the capital, Addis Ababa.
“Attempts by extremists to breakdown our rich history of religious tolerance and coexistence have no place in the new prosperity focused Ethiopia,” said Abiy, this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate, in a statement posted to his Facebook and Twitter accounts.
“I condemn such acts of cowardice and call upon all peace loving Ethiopians to draw upon our deep knowledge of coexistence and our reservoir of respect.”
Muslims make up about one-third of Ethiopia’s population of 110 million, second only to Orthodox Christians at 40%, according to the last census which was conducted in 2007.
But Muslims are vastly outnumbered in Amhara, the country’s second-most-populous region where Orthodox Christians make up more than 80% of the total.
The attacks on the mosques were condemned by the Orthodox Church and the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, Fana reported.
Daniel Bekele, head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, said in a statement that Amhara regional officials “should act promptly to investigate and bring perpetrators to justice.”
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
