By Elizabeth Kendal

The simplistic portrayals of Ethiopia as ‘Orthodox Christian’ or ‘a
Christian island surrounded by hostile Muslim neighbours’ are misleading.
These descriptions ignore the reality that Ethiopia is the legacy of a
Christian empire that incorporated many diverse peoples. The Tigray-
dominated north and the Amhara-dominated central highlands comprise the
Christian heartland. These two Semitic tribes together comprise 45 percent
of the population and most of the elite. The periphery is highly diverse
and includes many animist and Muslim peoples. Unity is fragile and
divisive forces are strong.

Before the Communist Revolution of 1974, Ethiopia was an Amhara-dominated
kingdom. After Mengistu’s Marxist regime fell in 1991, the new Tigray-led
government federalised the state, controversially devolving power to nine
autonomous, ethnic regions (just as Tito did in Yugoslavia and as has
recently been done in Kenya). By enabling a degree of self-determination,
ethnic federalism was supposed to prevent Amhara domination, end cultural
conflict and diminish divergent forces. In reality (as in Yugoslavia) it
has had the opposite effect: it has weakened the state while magnifying
ethnic differences and interests. The largest ethnic group, the Omoro
(about equal Muslim / Christian), complain of Tigrayan domination and want
to secede. In September 2009 the International Crisis Group lamented that
the international community was neglecting ‘the increased ethnic awareness
and tensions created by the regionalisation policy and their potentially
explosive consequences’.

Ethiopia’s Constitution (adopted in December 1994) states: ‘The
Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Any law, customary practice
or a decision of an organ of state or a public official which contravenes
this Constitution shall be of no effect’ (Article 9.1). Complicating
ethnic tensions is the trend of rising Islamic intolerance. According to
the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, Saudi-funded entities are
exacerbating tensions between traditional Sufis and new Wahhabis, as well
as between Muslims and Christians. In recent years Christians living in
Muslim-dominated areas have been subjected to escalating persecution and
application of Sharia law. To maintain ‘harmony’ and to appease restive
Muslims, the Federal Government made religious incitement and religious
defamation criminal offences in 2008. While Article 27 of the Federal
Constitution guarantees ‘Freedom of Religion, Belief and Opinion’ it also
provides that religious freedom may be limited by law in the interests of
public safety.

In August 2010 Tamirat Woldegorgis (early 30s and father of two), a
Protestant Christian in Ethiopia’s southern town of Moyale, Oromia region,
was arrested after a Muslim co-worker accused him of inscribing ‘Jesus is
Lord’ on a cloth. The accuser changed his statement several times before
the local imam testified that Woldegorgis had written the offensive words
on a Quran. Despite the absence of evidence, Woldegorgis was sentenced on
18 November 2010 to three years in prison for allegedly defiling a Quran.
He was then transferred to Jijiga Prison in Ethiopia’s Somali Region Zone
Five which is governed according to Sharia. Consequently his life is
greatly imperilled. Two friends who recently brought him food were fined
for supporting a criminal imprisoned for defaming Islam. Authorities have
reportedly offered to release Woldegorgis if he will convert to Islam
(Compass Direct News, 29 November 2010).

International Christian Concern (ICC) has reported several violent attacks
on Christian leaders in recent months. Of great concern is the report that
harassed and persecuted Christians in the southern city of Besheno, Oromia
region, have recently had notices posted on their doors warning them to
convert to Islam, leave the city or face death. According to ICC, three
leading Christians from an evangelical Christian community of about 30
believers have been forced to flee and two have been forcibly converted to
Islam.

Intolerant, repressive, fundamentalist Islam is spreading, exerting itself
and testing the limits in Ethiopia’s autonomous ethnic regions. Are
minority Christian groups in restive Muslim-dominated areas going to be
protected according to the Federal Constitution, or will they be
sacrificed on the altar of political expediency, stripped of their
constitutional rights and handed over to the dictators of Islam in
exchange for promises of ‘harmony’ and national unity?

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL:

* protect Tamirat Woldegorgis and deliver him safely back to his family;
may the family all know the sustaining presence of the Lord, their
provider.

* protect the Christians living in restive Oromia and Islamic Somali,
particularly the persecuted and threatened Christians in Besheno.

* grant Christian leaders great wisdom to know how to be ‘wise as
serpents and innocent as doves’ (Matthew 10:16 ESV).

* give the Federal Government much wisdom, strength and courage to tackle
the issue of constitutional rights and the supremacy of the Federal
Constitution over regional Islamic courts.

Please pray for Ethiopia, a state of immense geo-strategic value in the
Horn of Africa.

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SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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PERSECUTION ESCALATES IN MUSLIM AREAS OF ETHIOPIA

The Ethiopian Government federalised the state in 1996, devolving power to
nine autonomous, ethnic regions. Rather than appeasing and pacifying
Ethiopia’s diverse peoples, this ethnic federalism has only undermined
nationhood while magnifying ethnicity and differences. Divisive forces are
now stronger than ever. Furthermore Ethiopia’s traditional Sufi Muslims
are being radicalised by Saudi (Wahhabi) entities, inflaming religious
tensions. Protestant believer Tamirat Woldegorgis (30s) is in an Islamic
prison, having been falsely accused of defacing a Quran. Also Christians
in the southern town of Besheno are being told they must convert to Islam,
leave or die. Persecution and application of Sharia law are increasing.
Yet the central Government appears loath to intervene lest self-
determination, ‘harmony’ and ‘national unity’ be undermined. Please pray
for the Church in Ethiopia.

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We suggest that churches and fellowships using the above Summary might
also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their
worship by people who are leading in prayer.

For more information, updates and helpful links see Elizabeth Kendal’s
blog ‘Religious Liberty Monitoring’ <http://elizabethkendal.blogspot.com>.

This RLPB was written for the Australian Evangelical Alliance Religious
Liberty Commission (AEA RLC) by Elizabeth Kendal, an international
religious liberty analyst and advocate, and a member of the AEA RLC team.
Previous bulletins may be viewed at <http://www.ea.org.au/ea–
family/Religious-Liberty/Prayer-Postings.aspx>.

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