in what is considered as mockery in justice, arrested journalists, writers, authors and activist who speak out against the imposing the Lebanon based Ahbash`s ideology on Ethiopian Muslims were cleared from all the allegations.

Many consider this as simple intimidation to silence the journalists and keep the Muslim mass in the dark of what is going on. The rare insight of the court process endorses this view.

It is interesting to note that Ethiopian Muslims are discussing the issue from national stability and security prespective, far from sectarianism. Muslims are underlining that the issue is political before its religious, and trying get their message across to all Ethiopians , irrespective of their religious or political affiliation. If muslims succeed to extend the consensus that they have built among themselves on this issue to all other Ethiopians, then there is a real chance that country observe a fundamental change. That would mean feeling like a one body as one country nation, denying all the attempts for division by condemning all the abuses with one voice!

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Ahbash movement and the Ethiopian governments role in its activities appears to be escalating and becoming more public. A recently released two part Amharic documentary on the Ahbash and its activities in Ethiopia may give some insight on how the issue may spiral out and put the poor country in unnecessary trans-border conflict.

Though I hate to talk about sectarian division and politics, I find it unavoidable to give some insight as a warning and to understand the seriousness of the situation, before it is too late.

Ahbash was founded in Lebanon, a country where political and social structure is defined by sectarian division . The country`s socio-political structure and the tension has made the involvement of various countries inevitable, exploiting the local division. The country was under the direct influence of the Syrian regime, until it was forced to withdraw following the Hariri killing in 2006. Ahbash which often accused of aligning with the powerful side, enjoyed a good relationship with Syrian regime which helped it to occupy mosques by force. The forced withdrawal of the Syrian which used to have a long arm has somehow shaken the Ahbash political power. However Syria and Iran , both though sometime compete, could maintain their influence through their political allies, March 8 led by Hizbullah.

March 14 alliance is the rival , which is led by the Musakbal party . Hariri, a close ally of the Saudi, leads the March 14 alliance. Even though Ahbash claim to be the guardian of the Sunnis ( Syrian wanted to play that role to silence the strong Sunni opposition through them), and try to contest the Harir party, an arch enemy of the Syrian regime, it doesn't have any political weight on the ground on its won ,as it has failed to secure even a single seat in the parliament. The Hariri party uses the Gulf states led by Saudi to balance the Irano-Syrian influence. The riviality between Saudi and Iran has never been in public than it is recently, and the relationship between Syria and Saudi has been always full of tension. All this is mainly, due the detestable sectarianism of the two dictator regimes.

Currently, Syria regime is being shattered by pro-democracy protesters and it may be only a matter of time before its fall, which may yet be another blow to Ahbash. This may turn somehow Lebanon into turmoil, but definitely make the Saudi alliance more influential. Ahbash, which are often accused of making all necessary compromises even in its ideology for political collusion, may face its biggest challenge of survival once Saudi axis start to play assertive role in defining the Lebanese politics.

Moreover, Arab spring is changing in the perception of the world and, after they have seen how the Muslim world are thirsty for freedom and have sacrificed to get rid off the dictators peacefully. Now, Islamists has won in Tunisia and Morocco and on their way in Egypt. The political parties won in this country are surprising the world in their view and openness and the way they abide by democratic games. As the dictators and monarchies fall one after the other and democracy prevails , the islamist scare crow which they used to protect their power is also falling apart. That would change the political mind set driving the world, and the discourse of the Arab Israeli conflict. All that, would weaken the ground for political collusion with groups like Ahbash.

The ongoing socio-political dynamics of the region may have already worrying the Ahbash, as it may soon lose its base, Lebanon. Ahbash may already considering Ethiopia, the home of its founder, as an alternative save heaven. This may draw the attention of the world into Ethiopia with the risk of turning it into a new global sectarian battle field. That would put Ethiopia at a vulnerable end difficult position , perhaps become the new Lebanon , but without much global support due to the ongoing political dynamics which may change the current global political alignment basis . Time will tell how things will unfold in the coming years, if no proper measures are taken to diffuse the tension before it is too late.

You may have read about Ahbash, but this one is by far the most comprehensive insight on the Ahbash `s identity and its recent movement in Ethiopia. Make sure that you get the final recommendation made at the end of the documentary, which urges the Muslims to stand united and avoid emotional reactions to the provocation . It also asks the Muslims to be alert and strengthen their national role in both the economy, academic and da`wa field, as the objective is to weaken the Muslims by distracting them from their national roles, to diffuse the conspiracy through legitimate and peaceful means.

Part1


Part 2

Here is an excerpt of the latter that demonstrators handed over to the US state DepartmentYou may get the message of the demonstration through the letter submitted to the Departmetn of State:

We,the Ethiopian/American Muslim Community in the Washington Metropolitan Area,are gravely concerned about the Ethiopian government’s ever increasing suppression and interference in Ethiopian Muslims’internal religious affairs. Our concern lies in the government’s unconstitutional restrictions imposed on the peace loving Ethiopian Muslims through the promotion of a religious sect of its choice. We are calling upon the Ethiopian government to re-think and immediately cease its so called war on “Extremism”Which is a deliberate pretext to persecute innocent Ethiopian Muslims.

We are extremely disturbed by the recent developments in Ethiopia in which the government is undermining the constitution by aggressively involving itself in Muslim’s religious affairs. The government has sponsored and invited Lebanese and Syrian nationals who are alien to Ethiopian Muslims’religious and cultural ways of life to indoctrinate the Muslim populace with imported theology. Lately,the violation of Ethiopian Muslims’religious rights intensified in most public spheres mainly in government educational institutions where students and their parents are required to sign documents agreeing not to wear the religiously mandated head scarf (Hijab) or perform the religiously mandated prayers even though the official stated policy permits them to do so. The ever increasing suppression of freedom and equal rights in Ethiopia is becoming a grave concern to Ethiopian Muslims........

Read full letter here, and you may visit Negashi OJ for extensive coverage.

In a previous article EEJ warned that the EPRDF regime's interference may fire back. That is exactly what we are observing apparently, as the issue attracts global media and the government find itself in a situation difficult to explain itself.

There is no wonder that after daring and blatant unconstitutional of government official statements flooded the internet, in both audio and text form, media outlets like VOA Amharic are expressing difficulty to contact government officials to explain their position. Instead an embarrassing interview was conducted with the Mejlis, exposing the whole issue! The interview, in contrast with the one given by Ad-Hoc Committee set up by Ethiopian Muslims, gives and a deep insight on the issue, and its implication.

It is difficult to predict of why a ruling party of a country of more than 80 million involves itself in such dirty political gambling. Some analyst, however, explain as a desperate move by the government to distract the public from the real issues, or get the sympathy of the Western government. But,any person with little background on the nature of Muslim Ethiopians understand that this the last thing one would expect to achieve through Muslim Ethiopians.

Ethiopian Muslims have suffered for generations, lived under subjugation with their fundamental right deprived. They know through experience how importance peace and stability is, and how equality and dignity is fundamental is for this. As such Muslims always underline the importance of respecting the right of the individuals as well as groups in that country without any discrimination. Even , while their right is blatantly violated by the very government supposed to protect it, and intimidated by security forces they have not shaken away and kept peacefully calling for upholding the constitutional rights. Thus, if the interference was to provoke the Muslims toward violence to sell it later for certain political end, then that is simply in vain and misplaced expectation.

Muslim Ethiopian are peaceful and has not became a political threat to the EPRDF regime. In fact, the ruling party was arguably popular among the Muslims ,as it promoted itself as the guardian of the freedom of religion and ethnic rights, a political shift from previous regimes. Ironically, it is this base that has been shaken and eroded -perhaps for good- after EPRDF gambled by promoting the Ahbash ideology. From all perspective, EPRDF remains the main loser in both mid-and long term.

EPRDF can't afford keeping Ahbash imposed on Muslim Ethiopians forever. Even in Lebanon, where the Ahbash sect founded, the Syrian troops did the same for political reason but that only made the sect deeply unpopular among the Muslim mass. Ahbash has an ideology that is difficult to sell, as widely rejected by Muslims worldwide, making any long term vision built on popularity of this movement infeasible. The fact that this sect remains deeply detested in their base country,Lebanon, proves that.

What puts the EPRDF regime in a very tight position is the difficulty to make excuses and sell propaganda to justify its interference. Far from resorting to violence , Muslim Ethiopians are calling for equal right even for the Ahbash despite their rejection of their deviant ideology. Perhaps, the toughest question that the government is facing is how to justify inviting the so called scholars from Lebanon, a country notorious in it sectarian division to give lesson to Ethiopia. That is after Ethiopia heralded itself as a world model in coexistence!!!

EPRDF appear to have underestimated the Muslim Ethiopians in their reaction to the provocation and has apparently assumed their support as unconditional and guaranteed one. It is interesting to note that the Muslims are calling loudly for freedom of religion ,tolerance and respect of of fundamental right of all Ethiopians -irrespective of their ethnic and religion. Today, they are the ones who want to be seen , heard and engaged in all media outlets while their adversaries are speaking through their shadow!

Will the government acknowledge its mistake, and side with the constitution that it often try to associate itself with, apologizing for its wrongdoing?

BBN (Badr Broadcasting Network) is the latest effort by Muslim Ethiopians to make their voice heard.

Though the radio is new the voices are not altogether new as you find well known journalists like Sadik Mohammed, Yusuf Getachew and others.

You may visit the BBN website and fellow the radio programs!

I can't give a deep insight of the planned demonstration in DC area against the EPRDF regime recent intervention on religious affairs, as I was a bit out of touch these days. However, the interview with bro. Sadik is a good reflection of the way it should be handled. The mass protest should be universal and inviting and attracting all Ethiopians , irrespective of the their religious or ethnic affiliation. All Ethiopians who believe in justice , freedom and equality should participate to make their voice heard. It is indeed not an issue of a specific religion or sect, it is about the destiny of a country that brings us all together. Though specific incidents has motivated this protest, it is only a matter of time before others go through it.

If only we act like a one body and share each others` pain for the sake of common national interest then the government would abstain from gambling in our fundamental rights.