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?