“Shengo”) condemns the ongoing repression against Ethiopian Muslims and calls on all Ethiopians to join hands and defend their basic rights

The Ethiopian People’s Congress for United Struggle (Congress or Shengo) condemns the ongoing repression against the Ethiopian Muslims perpetrated by the regime of the TPLF/EPRDF.

In the last two weeks, dozens of leaders of the community have been detained and some, including Ahmedin Jebel – a representative of a mosque community group has been tortured by the security forces of the ruling TPLF/EPRDF.

As of last week, a number of peaceful demonstrators including the elderly have been beaten and detained. A number of members of the committee seeking a mediated solution have also been arrested and kept incommunicado. This follows the brutal repression at the Awelia Mosque in Addis Ababa during the night of July 13, 2012. Thus far, the ruling group’s only response to the peaceful demands of the Muslim community continues to be escalated repression and brutality.
The ruling group’s actions are contrary to the tenets of freedom of expression including the right to peaceful demonstration, religious freedom and freedom of speech.

•The Ethiopian People’s Congress for United Struggle (Congress/Shengo) condemns the ongoing repression and expresses its solidarity with the Ethiopian Muslims.

•We urge all Ethiopians, regardless of their religious faith or political belief, to join hands with the Muslims community and struggle for full respect of the rights of the Ethiopian people including freedom of religion, freedom of expression and freedom to demonstrate peacefully.

•We call on Ethiopians world wide to hold peaceful solidarity demonstrations with both Muslim and Christian Ethiopians who are suffering in the hands of the ruling TPLF/EPRDF.

•The Ethiopian People’s Congress for United Struggle (Congress or Shengo) holds the ruling TPLF/EPRDF responsible for further escalation of the conflict and for the detention and lose of life of any and all peaceful protesters.
July 30, 2012