When it comes to religion and
ethnicity more care has to be taken due to the delicacy of both issues and the
sensitivity of people who belong or are member of a certain religion or ethnic
group. It does not mean we have to try to be perfect in discussing both issues.
Avoiding discussion on both subjects leads to more complication which will
result into mistrust between members of the deferent groups.
The renowned Spanish novelist
George Santayana (1863-1952) said “Those who cannot remember the
past are condemned to repeat it.” We, Ethiopians, have to learn from our history for ourfuture existence as a country by
correcting mistakes made in the past.
Religion is one of the main parts of Ethiopian history.
Especially, Islam has been part of our history from beginning of the time of
prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Ethiopia was first country in the world other than
Arabia (Mecca) where Muslims settled.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) instructed his followers (Sahaba)
which includes members of his family to seek refuge in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) to
avoid prosecution from Mecca Kuraysh tribe. He told them to go to Ethiopia,
where they would “find a king there who does not wrong anyone.”After their arrival they were
welcomed by the then King Negash ( Ashama ibn Abjar).
The king gave them refuge and protection and refused the requests of the
Quraysh clan to send them back to Arabia. It was the first hijra (migration) in Islamic history before the second
hijra (Migration) from Mecca to Median from which Islamic Calendar begun.
Barakah Umm Ayman who accompanied the prophet (PBUH) from
his birth to his death was an Ethiopian. She considered as step mother of the
Prophet (PBUH) after the death of his parents. Bilal ibn Rabah, one of the most trusted and loyal companions of prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the first Muadhdhin or the caller to
prayer, was an Ethiopian.
The city of Harar, according to UNESCO, is
“considered ‘the fourth holy city’ of Islam,” with 82 mosques, three
of which date from the 10th century, and 102 shrines. These are main historic
events and reality in the Islamic history of Ethiopia and no other country has other
than present Saudi Arabia where Islamic revelation revealed.
Of course there were few events which had different interpretation
and damaged relation between Islam and Christianity in the country. The so
called Ahmad Grang syndrome of the Ahmad ibn Ibrahim
al-Ghazi expansion (16th Century) which led to unnecessary discrimination of the whole Ethiopian Muslims by
the past governments is one example. When fascist Italian invaded Ethiopia between
1936 and 1941, it used divide and rule policy, similar to the current
government of TPLF, by creating animosity between deferent ethnic and religion
groups by systematically fevering one at the expense of the others. Italians
especially used discrimination imposed on Ethiopian Muslims by government of
the time to their advantage.
For example, to neutralize the patriotism of
few Muslims and to seek support from Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, the Italians allowed some space for religious “freedom”
such as by opening few Madrasas (Islamic school), and allowing more number of
pilgrimages to Mecca (Haj). However after Italian invaders was chased out from
our country this favoritism was exaggerated by governing elites and smear
propaganda was spread through Christian community to isolate Muslims painting
themas being traitors which
resulted in making life difficult for the Ethiopian Muslims community up to
being called “Muslims living in Ethiopia” by the same elites. The
real traitors (Banda) were not
limited to any religion or ethnicity.
Despite all hardships and discrimination by governing
elites propaganda Ethiopian Muslims have played and are playing important role
in the advancement of our country and lived and are living side by side with
the rest of the countrymen without any hostilities up to now. Tolerance and
reconciliation were and still are part of the culture of our society. These are
part of our history and heritage which we have to proud of as Ethiopian in
general and as Muslims in particular. However, they have not been used since
TPLF government took power.
TPLF government is doing its homework since its existence
as organization to dismantle Ethiopia with poisonous revenge politic originated
from hate policy of the organization and its leader Meles Zenawi. TPLF used divide
and rule policy as a perfect tactic to achieve its goal for the past 20 years.
The tactic failed beyond little psychological influence here and there in the
country since the beginning of existence of the organization as a government
which resulted in human loses in different part of the country. There is no more evidence than historical OLF
change of its political program for the failure of TPLF divisive tactic based
on ethnicity. At this time TPLF left with only two cards to play,
terrorism and religious fundamentalism.
The involvement of TPLF government in religious matter
was not new. From the day one the main task of the TPLF was shaping all
Ethiopian institutions the way it can be easy to manipulate. Religious
institutions, especially the mains religions Christian, Islam and Judaism, are
one of its nightmares due to that it was not as easy as ethnic card to play
with. Any how, Meles managed to some extent to manipulate few religious leaders
to suppress the voice of the majority of their followers. It is evident that
Meles sending out his force in full to silence all his opponents by libeling
them with bogus name – terrorist or fundamentalist to stay on power untill his
last day. For sure there are no more terrorists in Ethiopia than state
sponsored terrorism; no more fundamentalists than the government which doesn’t
believe in any religion, a government inhuman and led by emotionally exhausted
and morally bankrupt dictator who is trying to
create bogus fundamentals for its own internal and external consumption.
There is no denial that TPLF managed to create tensions
between two peace loving Christians and Muslim communities using few
individuals and groups led by its cadres as we witnessed in Jimma and recently
in Silte area. Ironically this time, TPLF deepening its involvement in
religious matter especially in Muslim affair as far as telling as which
brunchto follow, while the difference
between many branches tolerated by its own leaders and followers. All four schools of thoughts of Islam (Madhabs)
followers lived in the country without an issue for centuries, let alone
fighting on the branches of the religion. So, why now?
Of course there are few illiterates victim of TPLF hiden
agenda & opportunist individuals who are using it to their advantage by weakening
the tolerance and peace loving of Ethiopian Muslim community which exists since
Islamic revelation.
As known to every one as a dictator Mr
. Meles wants to become the only one regarding any brunch professionin Ethiopia, now he is
working on his “theology” to save himself and his party from
doomsday as “a leader” of all religions. The main function of any
government should be to enforce laws, legislate new once and arbitrate
conflicts, not creating conflicts intersociety to cling on power. One can wonder if Mr. Meles is aware of existence of article 11
‘separation of state and religion’ & and article 27 freedom of
religion, believe and opinion’ in the “Ethiopian
constitution”.
Dictators
do not need majority support to stay on power instead they need support of
business , labor union the military, the policy, religious organization,
organized crime, or the extremely wealthy. They also need support of western
country to keep flow of aid money for their oppression by being “Valuable
friend”. That is what Mr.Meles doing to stay on
power, manipulating to get their support. Wouldn’t be for their support
he won’t stay at where he is now for a single day. For that we do not
need more evidence than 2005 general election in which Ethiopian people spoken.
When the Prophet (PBUH) said to his follower “find
a king there who does not wrong anyone” at first Hijra(
migration) it indicates that Ethiopian was land of justice&a land where freedom of religion was
respected. .
We have to claim back Ethiopia that respect equality,
justice for all, human right and tolerance. By recognizing the past dole we
have to build the future on reconciliation. Attempting to forward on revenge instead
of reconciliation and torelance by siding unelected dictatorial government
can’t lead us any where. We have to learn from our past history as
Ethiopian in general and as Muslim in particular and stand side by side with majority
of population fight for justice, equality and freedom. Only then we will pursue
what we believe in as free human being.
As John C.
Maxwell (Author) said“A man must be big enough to admit his
mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct
them”. We have to admit past mistakes and correct them for the last
solution to avoid being used by those who shed crocodile tears.
Despite all odds in the past we lived together for
centuries in tolerance waiting for right moment to come. The right moment is
now as it was not pre TPLF or post TPLF. Tel them (TPLF) that we do not want a
government that interferes in our religious affair,a government that pocks for conflict to
divert attention from real issue,luck of justice & human right, and a
government that fear mongeringto
divide citizens to stay on power. We, Ethiopians, have to unite to get our real
freedom not the bogus one.
“…There
is no compulsion in religion…” (Quran 2:256.)
