The Ethiopian/American Muslim Ad-Hoc Committee has issued the following statement:
We, the Ethiopian/American Muslim community in the Washington Metropolitan Area, are gravely concerned about the Ethiopian government's interference in Ethiopian Muslims' religious affairs by imposing a religious sect of its choice.
According to different media outlets and Ethiopian government officials, the government sponsored Lebanese and Syrian nationals who are alien to Ethiopian Muslims' religious cultures and ways of life started the indoctrination of the Muslim populace with the choice of theology of the government's like. Lately, the violation of Ethiopian Muslims' religious rights intensified in most public spheres. Officials who work closely with the government informed the media in Ethiopia about the plan to train (indoctrinate) close to 30,000 imams throughout the country by violating its own constitution as a secular government and forcing students and their parents to sign documents agreeing not to wear the religiously mandated head scarf (Hijab) or perform the religiously mandated prayers even though the official stated policy permits them to do so. As part of this plan of intimidation, the government announced the arrest of over 500 Muslim religious leaders and activist in the town of Assandabo in the Oromia region.
We the Ethio/American Muslims of the Washington Metro Area are deeply disappointed and saddened to see the government that is supposed to protect and guaranty the implementation of the constitution blatantly violate it itself. The Ethiopian government clearly undermined article 11 that calls for the "separations of state and religion" by actively helping the imposition of the religious sect that it favors on Ethiopian Muslims. The constitution states: "The state shall not interfere in religious matters and religion shall not interfere in state affairs." It has also violated article 27 that guarantees the freedom of religion, belief and opinion.
We the Ethio/American Muslims of the Washington Metro believe Ethiopia, which is one of the poorest countries in the world with massive economic problems, is spending its meager resources and foreign aid money in the senseless business of religious indoctrination of its populace. American taxpayers' money should not be used for the purpose of religious indoctrination or human right violations.
Therefore, we the Ethio/American Muslims of the Washington Metro Area announce our plan to stage a mass protest on November 21, 2011.
Join us on our mass protest of the Ethiopian government.
Date: November 21st, Time: 9:00 AM in front of the White house, then the State Department protest disperses at the State Department at 1:30 PM
