From: International Christian Concern <icc@persecution.org>
Date: Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:47:00 -0400
Subject: Press Release: Islamists Attack Pakistani Christian Family
for Refusing to Convert
To: rkbrookescyp@gmail.com
 
International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941 • Washington DC 20006-1846
www.persecution.org[http://www.persecution.org] /  Email:
icc@persecution.org[mailto:icc@persecution.org]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jonathan Racho,
Regional Manager for Africa and the Middle East,
1-800-422-5441, jonathan@persecution.org[mailto:jonathan@persecution.org]
Muslim Mob Severely Injured Three Christians,
Ransacked Two Churches in Ethiopia
 
Washington, D.C. (October 2, 2009) – International Christian
Concern (ICC) has learned that on September 11, 2009, a Muslim mob
severely injured three Christians and ransacked two churches in
Senbete, a town in the western Arsi zone of Ethiopia.
  
An estimated 300 Muslims ransacked Mulu Wongel Evangelical Church and
set fire to church property. They also attacked the nearby home of
Evangelist Gizachew, one of the church’s leaders, destroying his
clothes, chairs, tables, sofa, bicycles, and TV.
  
The mob then marched to Kale Hiwot Evangelical Church where Christians
were celebrating the Ethiopian New Year. They attacked the Christians
with stones and sticks, broke the left arm of Aberash Terefe, and
seriously wounded Tefera Bati and Desaleghn Eyasu. The three were
taken to the nearby Kuyera hospital and were discharged after
treatment. The Muslims pillaged the church’s property and caused
52,000 birr ($4,127) worth of damage.
  
The violence erupted after Muslim leaders called for attacks alleging
that Mulatu Eyasu, a second year Bible school student, and Berhanu
Abose, a farmer, desecrated the Qur’an. Sheik Hussein Mohammed,
Imam Ahmed and a third unidentified Muslim leader instigated the jihad
attacks. The officials of Ethiopia are searching for them but they
remain at large. The police have arrested Sheik Qufa Wonjelo, Moti
Motamo, Domba Atota, Sero Sheik Ahmedin, Bamudi Tulu and Bati Barasso
for perpetrating the violence.
Mulatu Eyasu and Berhanu Abose are also under police custody on false
allegations of desecrating the Qur’an.
 
ICC sources identified Bati Wetiye, Lelisso Atota and Begelo as the
masterminds of the attacks. The three are prominent Muslim business
owners in the nearby town of Shashamane. They encouraged the mob to
enforce jihad in order to eliminate Christians from the area.
 
Muslims are the majority in the small town of Senbete. Muslim leaders
are incensed by Muslim conversion to Christianity. Some radicals are
threatening to carry out further attacks against Christians.
 
According to the census conducted by Ethiopia’s Central
Statistical Agency in 2007, Muslims make up 33.9% of Ethiopia’s
population and Christians make up 62.8%. In the past few years, there
has been an increase in the radicalization of Muslims in Ethiopia
mainly due to the influence of Wahhabi Islam. Wahhabi Islam, which is
sponsored and spread by Saudi Arabia, teaches intolerance and violence
against Christians and other non-Wahhabis. Christians living in Muslim
majority regions of the country have been victims of violent attacks
by Wahhabi and other radical Islamic groups.
 
Jonathan Racho, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa and the Middle
East, said, “We strongly condemn the violent attacks against
Christians and churches in Senbete. We call upon Ethiopian officials
to seriously investigate the violence and bring all the perpetrators
and instigators to justice. We also ask Ethiopian officials to
investigate the involvement of Begelo, Lelisso Atota and Bati Wetiye
in masterminding the violence. We urge Ethiopian officials to ensure
the safety of Christians in Senbete and protect them from further
violence.”
 
Please call the Ethiopian embassy in your countries and ask the
Ethiopian officials to bring the perpetrators of the violence to
justice and ensure the Christians’ freedom to worship in
Senbete.
 
Ethiopian Embassies:
 
USA
Phone: (202) 274-4575
Email: ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org[mailto:ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org][
UK
Phone: 020 7838 3880
Fax: 020 7838 3889
Email: ambassador@ethioembassy.org.uk[mailto:ambassador@ethioembassy.org.uk]
Canada
Phone: 613-235-6637
Fax: 613-235-4638
Email: infoethi@magi.com[mailto:infoethi@magi.com]
Germany  
Phone: 49(0)30-772-0613
Fax: 030-77-20-626
Email: emb.ethiopia@t-online.de[mailto:emb.ethiopia@t-online.de]
# # #
You are free to disseminate this news story. We request that you
reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web
address, www.persecution.org[http://www.persecution.org]. ICC is a
Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help
persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC provides Awareness, Advocacy, and
Assistance to the worldwide persecuted Church.  For additional
information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.
 
 
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