Addis Ababa( Ethiopia Today) May 27, 2023: Two civilians were killed yesterday, and more than 40 people, including police officers and different police backup forces, suffered minor and serious injuries during the police crackdown against Muslim protesters in and around the Grand Anuwar Mosque in Addis Ababa.
The protests broke out on Friday after prayer hours by the Muslim community in the city against the demolition of mosques in the newly formed Shager city, which was formerly known as the Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne.
According to a statement released by the Addis Abeba Police last night, the two victims died after “being sent to the hospital for treatment.” The statement didn’t mention if the two victims were killed by the police. The victims are identified by Jeilu TV as Siraj Mohammed and Abubeker Elias, both residents of the city.
The city police said only four individuals were injured, and 37 police officers and members deployed to enforce the law, as well as 15 different police backup forces, received serious and minor injuries and were sent for treatment. Two buses belonging to the city’s public transport system were also “damaged”, according to the police.
This morning, the President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Ethiopia, Sheikh Hajj Ibrahim Tufa, and the leaders of the Majlis visited at the Black Lion Hospital those who were injured and were admitted for treatment.
Referring to the events as “riots,” the city police said they have been “brought under control and the areas have returned to normal activities. However, it said 114 individuals were arrested suspected of “instigating the riot.” The police also said “information circulating on some social media that there has been a major riot in Addis Abeba was exaggerated.”
The crackdown by the police drew criticism from the Addis Abeba Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, which denounced “the unconstitutional and inhumane action taken by the security forces” at the Grand Anuwar Mosque, which “resulted in the loss of human life and many injuries.” The Council once again demanded an end to the actions of demolishing mosques that are taking place in Shaggar and to resolve the problem through dialogue and the implementation of corrective measures.
Prominent Islamic scholars have also denounced the police’s actions and demanded justice for the victims.
A delegation led by Sheikh Haj Ibrahim Tufa also met with security forces in the city last night to discuss the matter and agreed for the police to reopen the two mosques, the Nour Mosque and the Grand Anuwar Mosque, that the police closed in the wake of the protests. Credit: AS
