Three Killed As Tensions Continue in Ethiopia over Mosque Demolitions
They were killed when police clashed with worshippers outside Addis Ababa's largest mosque, Ethiopian security forces said.
Several Muslim places of worship have been destroyed on the outskirts of Addis Ababa in recent months as part of a controversial urban planning project, which has sparked anger among worshippers.
Police fired teargas at worshippers outside the Grand Anwar Mosque, in the latest clashes fuelled by the destruction of mosques in the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital.
Ethiopia's Joint Security and Intelligence Task Force said three people had died in the clashes, according to a statement published by Fana Broadcasting Corporate, a state-affiliated channel.
Property of unknown value had been destroyed, it said, adding that 65 police officers suffered "light and heavy injuries."
Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council has expressed its discontent with a recent statement issued by the Oromia regional government communication bureau, citing a failure to accurately represent the sentiments and needs of the wider Muslim community in Ethiopia.
The Supreme Council said in a statement on Thursday, that a nine-member committee, which was established following the council’s emergency meeting on May28, is currently engaged in discussions with high-ranking officials from the federal government, with the aim of resolving the issue of demolition of mosques.
Calling on the Muslim community to patiently wait for the outcome of the ongoing discussions, the council cautioned against potential exploitation of the situation by certain groups with political agenda, and urged them to refrain from any illegal acts.
The Oromia region communication bureau said in a presser on Wednesday that it is carrying out a campaign of demolishing “illegal buildings” in more than 600 cities across the region, and defended the process as “constitutional and legal”.
Head of the bureau, Hailu Adugna noted that the campaign is not limited to Shaggar city and mosques are not the only target as opposed to “false and politically tuned propaganda” waged by “organized internal and external extremists who work under the guise of religion”.
The statement came days after at least two civilians were killed and more than 40 people, including police officers suffered minor and serious injuries during a crackdown against Muslim protesters in and around the Grand Anuwar Mosque in the capital Addis Ababa last Friday.
Source: Agencies
