listen to ‘Ethiopian Muslims celebrate Eid with protests’ on Audioboo

It's the end of the long month of fasting for Muslims around the world today - but Ethiopian Muslims are not celebrating this eid - instead; they've been on the streets, demonstrating against what they're calling "interference" in religious affairs. There have been several Muslim protests in the country over the past year and tensions are running high: These men took part in the demonstrations this morning

BBCAfrica@BBC Africa

Eid Mubarak in Ethiopia

Eid Mubarak for all of you. This Eid is celebrated under very sad circumstance. The killing in Kofelle last week have left many families without their loved ones. The Ethiopian Muslim leaders are still in Woyane’s jails. Woyane is threatening Ethiopian Muslims with “YeFeyele Wetete” reminiscent of the Derg time. Ethiopians both Christians and Muslims are marching peacefully in all parts of Ethiopia saying No to the Terrorism Law and for the release of Muslim leaders and other political prisoners.
The one and half year peaceful struggle of Ethiopian Muslims has indeed led the rest of Ethiopia on what peaceful struggle is. I have great respect for fellow Ethiopian Muslims for being peaceful while the government is doing everything to make it otherwise.
I do believe like many fellow Ethiopians that Ethiopian Muslims struggle is for religious freedom not for establishment of “Islamic Ethiopia” as Woyane tried to sell it in “Jihadawi Harakat” propaganda and fall miserably.
Eid Mubrak,
Tedla Asfaw

Amnesty International: Ethiopian repression of Muslim protests must stop

Young Ethiopian Muslim girl, attacked by Ethiopian government forces during Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Addis Ababa. August 08, 2013

The Ethiopian government must end its use of repressive tactics against demonstrators, following initial reports of widespread arrests of Muslim protestors during this morning’s Eid al-Fitr celebrations, said Amnesty International today.
“We are extremely concerned at reports coming out of Ethiopia this morning of further widespread arrests of Muslim protesters. The Ethiopian government’s  ongoing repressive crackdown on freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest has to end now,” said Claire Beston, Amnesty International’s Ethiopia researcher.
Last week, another incident related to the protests reportedly ended in the deaths of an unconfirmed number of people in the town of Kofele in Oromia region.
During the 18 month-long protest movement against alleged government interference in Islamic affairs, the vast majority of demonstrations have been peaceful. However, there have been at least four incidents involving serious allegations of the excessive use of force by security forces against demonstrators in the long-running movement.  While a few isolated incidents of violence involving protestors have occurred, these have taken place during episodes where excessive police force is alleged.
“These reports of further deaths in the context of the Muslim protest movement are deeply worrying. There must be an immediate, independent and impartial investigation into the events in Kofele, as well as into the four incidents last year which resulted in the deaths and injuries of protestors,” said Claire Beston.
“With further protests planned, it is imperative that the behaviour of the security forces is scrutinised and if enough admissible evidence of crimes is found, suspected perpetrators should be prosecuted in trial proceedings that meet international standards.”
Accounts of last week’s incident in Kofele from the protestors and the government differ widely.
Protestors report that the security forces opened fire on unarmed people who were protesting against the arrests of members of the local Muslim community. One resident of Kofele told Amnesty International that 14 people were shot dead by the army, including at least three children. Another said that 11 people had been killed.
According to media reports, the authorities have said that the protestors were armed, leading to an outbreak of violence which resulted in the deaths of three protestors and injuries to a number of police officers. Government representatives refused to respond to Amnesty International’s queries about the incident.
There are also reports of large numbers of arrests in and around Kofele, Oromia, and further arrests in Addis Ababa over the last week.
Those arrested included two journalists – Darsema Sori and Khalid Mohamed – detained early last week in Addis Ababa.
The two men were working for Radio Bilal, which has regularly reported on the protest movement. Darsema Sori had also previously worked for the publication Ye’Muslimoch Guday (Muslim Affairs), from which two employees have already been arrested during the protest movement, and who are currently being prosecuted under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation.
According to information received by Amnesty International Darema Sori and Khalid Mohamed are being held at Sostegna (third) police station in Addis Ababa and are not being permitted visitors. They have reportedly been taken to court and were remanded in custody while the police continue their investigation.
Reports of arrests and detentions of peaceful protestors and people suspected of involvement in organising the protests have continued throughout 18-months of demonstrations.
Despite many months of large-scale, peaceful protests, the government has repeatedly attempted to paint the protest movement as violent and terrorist-related in statements to the media and in parliament. Amnesty International has received a number of reports of messages aired via the state media over the last week, warning that the authorities would take firm action against anyone who attempted to take part in further demonstrations.
“This is a violation of people’s right to peacefully protest, as protected in Ethiopia’s Constitution,” said Claire Beston. “The government continues to respond to the grievances of the Muslim community with violence, arbitrary arrests and the use of the overly-broad Anti-Terrorism Proclamation to prosecute the movements’ leaders and other individuals.”
As demonstrations continue, Amnesty International is concerned that the response of the authorities will also continue to involve human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests of peaceful protestors and possible further bloodshed.
The organization urges the Ethiopian government to respect the right of its citizens to peacefully protest and urges an immediate end to heavy-handed tactics in response to the protests. Anyone arrested solely for exercising their right to peaceful protest must be released immediately.
Background
The trial continues of 29 figures related to the protest movement including nine members of a committee of representatives selected by the Muslim community to represent their grievances to the government, and one journalist, Yusuf Getachew, of the publication Ye’Muslimoch Guday. The trial has already been marred by a number of fair trial concerns, including the airing on state-run Ethiopian Television (ETV) of a programme called “Jihadawi Harakat.” It painted the Muslim protest movement and some of the individuals on trial as having connections with Islamic extremist groups, seriously jeopardising the right of the defendants to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The trial is now taking place in closed proceedings, increasing fears that the defendants will not receive a fair trial. Amnesty International believes that the individuals on trial are being prosecuted because of their participation in a peaceful protest movement.

Ethiopian Muslims protest August 08, 2013 Part1

Ethiopian Muslims protest August 08, 2013 Part1. Latest Ethiopian news, music, drama, comedy and documentary. ECADF – Ethiopian Current Affairs Discussion Forum YouTube channel.