The demolition of mosques in Ethiopia has caused an uproar in the Muslim community
Ethiopia – A wave of protests have erupted following the demolition of several mosques on the outskirts of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa in recent months. The Ethiopian government claims that these demolitions are part of an urban planning project. However, this has led to widespread anger among Ethiopian Muslims who view it as an attack on their religious freedom and cultural heritage.
The situation is further complicated by the limited availability of factual information and the suppression of press freedom in the country, explained Ayesha Kajee, Analyst and Activist. Efforts to gather accurate information about the events in Ethiopia have proven challenging due to the lack of response from contacts within the country.
“I’ve tried to contact various friends, people who are working at the African Union, journalists that I’ve trained in the past and there’s just been very little response on this issue. Nobody seems to know exactly what’s going on. They do confirm that a couple of mosques have been demolished but also it appears that everybody is very afraid to talk. Ethiopia is a country where press freedom is under threat and is monitored very closely by the state agencies.”
Images and videos depicting the demolished mosques and protests have circulated on social media platforms, amplifying public awareness of the situation. The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called on the Biden administration to take concrete actions to prevent the government of Ethiopia from demolishing that nation’s mosques.
The tragedy at the Grand Anwar Mosque in Ethiopia
Located in Addis Ababa, the Grand Anwar Mosque holds significant importance as a place of worship for Ethiopian Muslims, attracting thousands of worshipers for Friday prayers. Tens of thousands of worshipers gathered at Anwar Mosque for a protest, resulting in the death of three individuals.
“The state has confirmed that three people died and that up to 65 security personnel, which could be army personnel or police personnel, were injured. On social media there are claims that at least 16 have died. As I have said it’s very difficult to get to the bottom of this without having somebody in the country that is willing to come and speak publicly but of course the reluctance to do so is because of suppression of the press in Ethiopia at the moment.”
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Escalating tensions and islamophobia
Ethiopia is already grappling with the conflict in the Tigre region, and the potential for exacerbating tensions through these mosque demolitions pose a significant risk. Last year, Ethiopia witnessed anti-Muslim attacks in April, underscoring the need to address the issue promptly to prevent further escalation and potential clashes between different religious communities.
“It may be that this is going to flame tensions between Muslims and others in the country. Whether it be Orthodox Ethiopian Christians or members of other religions. There are other smaller animist religions in Ethiopia as well and of course there are a few Jews there as well. It’s an important site of potential conflict that needs to be contained right now. In order to do that the Ethiopian government needs to come clean and say what its plans for the areas where these mosques were demolished are and why the Muslim community was not allowed the opportunity to prepare for these [demolitions] if it was inevitable that these mosques would be demolished.”
The lack of transparency surrounding the government’s plans and the suppression of press freedom in the country contribute to the climate of uncertainty. It is imperative that national, regional, and international organisations unite to demand answers, seek justice, and support Ethiopian Muslims. By advocating for transparency and engaging with relevant authorities, it is hoped that tensions can be mitigated, and the rights and freedoms of all religious communities in Ethiopia can be safeguarded.
In a captivating conversation, Ayesha Kajee engaged with Inayet Wadee to explore the crucial role of international organisations, such as the African Union (AU), in intervening in the unfolding situation in Ethiopia and the potential influence of Zionism in the region. Listen to that discussion here:
