Ethiopia: Christian Man Writing ‘Jesus Is Lord’ On Notebook Arrested For ‘Crimes Against Islam’

Philippians 2:9-11, “… God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord …”

ICC – “International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that two Christian men were arrested in Ethiopia by local police influenced by radical Muslims. In separate incidents, these men were detained by local police for what authorities are calling ‘crimes against Islam,’ even though no such crime exists in Ethiopia’s penal code.

In late March, Alemlayehu Legese was arrested by local police in Dodola, a city located 180 miles south of Addis Ababa, after admitting to owning literature that ‘discussed the history of Islam from a Christian perspective.’ Legese, a student at Dodola Mekane Yesus Bible School, dropped off the literature at a copy shop where a Muslim employee who felt Christians should not be allowed to read about the history of Islam contacted police. ‘The police officers treated this incident as if it were a terrorist attack,’ an ICC representative in Ethiopia said.

Fearful the investigation could lead to widespread violence, the local church advised Legese to report to the police and admit to owning the literature. Upon reporting to the police, Legese was arrested and imprisoned. When ICC asked why Legese was being imprisoned without being formally charged, the local police commander said they were detaining Legese to ‘cool down the anger of local Muslims.’ It has been over two months since Legese was imprisoned, formal charges are yet to be laid against him.

On May 25, Tamirat Woldegiorgis, a Christian living in Moyale Town, located on Ethiopia’s border with Kenya, was arrested by local police. Many are concerned this arrest is connected to a previous arbitrary detention Woldegiorgis served from 2010-2012, when he spent 22 months in prison because local police accused him of ‘crimes against Islam.’

Local radicals claimed that Woldegiorgis wrote ‘Jesus is Lord’ on the notebook of a student attending a local madrassa. Woldegiorgis was released on May 2, 2012 when human rights organizations, including ICC, became involved in the case. Woldegiorgis was again released on June 5, but was required to pay a bail of $5,319 for an unspecified criminal charge and will still face court hearings on June 10.” Read more.

Flashback: Ethiopia: Radical Wahabi Muslims Seeking To Turn Ethiopia Into An Islamic State Governed By Sharia Law – “In a recent press conference, the Ethiopian government have unveiled plans by the radical Wahabi Muslim sect to turn Ethiopia into an Islamic country governed by Sharia laws. The government has also expressed its concern over the growing violence against moderate Muslims and Christians by radical Wahabi Muslims. The Director General at the ministry of foreign affairs, Mersessa Reda said: ‘We have found evidences and pamphlets were publicly distributed during the month of Ramadan calling on the Muslim community to stand up against all non- Wahabi Muslims and other religion followers,’ he said.” Read more.

Flashback: Thousands of Christians Displaced in Ethiopia After Muslim Extremists Torch 50 Churches, Dozens of Homes – “Thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homes in Western Ethiopia after Muslim extremists set fire to roughly 50 churches and dozens of Christian homes. At least one Christian has been killed, many more have been injured and anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 have been displaced in the attacks that began March 2 after a Christian in the community of Asendabo was accused of desecrating the Koran. The violence escalated to the point that federal police forces sent to the area two weeks ago were initially overwhelmed by the mobs.” Read more.