Ethiopia Muslims decry Ahbashism Campaign

Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopian Muslims have taken to the streets to protest the government’s oppression on their community and interference in their religious affairs.
This is the first time I see Ethiopian Muslims united against their common enemy,” Temam Mohammed, one of the protestors, said.

“The ‘Majlis’ leaders thought they can impose their evil policy on us by using force,” he said, referring to the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs.

Thousands of Muslims protested across the capital Addis Ababa following the Friday prayers to protest the government oppression of their community.

Chanting “We want our rights” and Allahu Akbar (God is Greatest), the protestors condemn government restrictions on their community.

Protestors say the government is spearheading a campaign in collaboration with the Majlis to indoctrinate Muslims with the ideology of a sect called “Ahbash”.

The government of Ethiopian Premier Meles Zenawi has put the Ahbas in charge of the religious affairs of Ethiopia’s Muslims.

Muslims say the government move was in violation of the constitution, which prevents the government interference in religious affairs.

Muslims also accuse the Ahbash of launching an “indoctrination program” in predominantly Muslim areas, forcing people to attend “religious training” camps or risk police interrogation and possible arrest.

“They thought they can draw a line between “Sufi” and “Salafi” and fulfill the interest of Ahbash which is a deviant business motivated sect seeking to expand its empire by dividing the people,” Mohammed said.

“But we were fast enough to know their hidden agenda and strengthened the brotherly bond among the Muslim society. That is why you see this large mass coming here to demand its right.”

Founded by Ethiopian-Lebanese scholar Sheikh Abdullah al-Harari, Ahbash is seen by the West as a “friendly alternative” to Wahabi ideology, which the West sees as extreme and militant.

Muslims say Ahbash imams are being brought over from Lebanon to fill the Majlis and teach Ethiopians that “Wahabis” are non-Muslims.

Silenced Muslims

The government, however, insists it was not interfering in the religious affairs of Ethiopian Muslims.

“We have no right to intervene in the churches and mosques,” Premier Zenai told the parliament last week.

“We didn’t impose Ahbash ideology on the mass. All what is happening is done by the leaders of Islamic Affairs council themselves.

“What we did was only teaching about our constitution. We did that because it was our duty,” he said.

Zenawi also defended mass arrests of Muslims, saying it was part of efforts to combat extremism in the country.

“All those arrested by the security agents are part of the ‘Salafi’ school which approves that at least some ‘Salafis’ want to topple the state forcefully,” he said.

“We know them and we follow up them. However, this doesn’t mean all Salafis are Al-Qaeda members.”

But Muslim religious leaders see Zenawi’s statements as a tactic to silence them.

“Our request is purely about freedom of religion. We didn’t ask political power,” Muslim scholars said.

“He didn’t address any one of the three points we requested. But he tried to show us his wisdom about “Sufi” and “Salafi” and terrorized us by bringing a nightmare of ‘Al-Qaeda’ to our country. He did so because he wants to keep us away from raising similar questions in the future.”