Religious Tension Erupts throughout Ethiopia

AIMS News: Posted 12/1/2006

ETHIOPIA: Dozens of churches have been burned and families forced out of their homes in Southwest Ethiopia and as tensions between Christians and Muslims rise. Although the majority of Ethiopians adhere to the Christian Orthodox Church, Islam is growing rapidly in many areas, specifically in the southwestern portions of the country. Throughout October, local Muslims rioted in protest of Orthodox festivals after the countryís vice president spoke to thousands of Muslim and Christian leaders to promote peace.

According to Voice of the Martyrs, the violence began when an Orthodox woman and her son were killed after they refused to denounce their faith and the womanís husband retaliated by killing four Muslim men. In October alone, more than 30 churches were burned or converted to mosques, hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes, and at least 15 people have died. Pray that our mobilization efforts in Ethiopia will continue to be effective in the midst of this chaos.

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