On June 29 and 30, following the assassination of renowned artist Hachalu Hundessa, violent protests took place across Ethiopia. These acts of terror occurred in selected cities and towns across ten provincial zones (Eastern and Western Arsi, Eastern and Western Hararge, Eastern Showa, Southwestern Showa, Jima, Balle, Harar and Metu, and two federally administered cities: Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Within the two days of violence, 239 lives, mostly civilians and Orthodox Christians are known to have been killed. According to government authorities, approximately 328 houses, mostly of ethnic minorities and Orthodox Christians, 44 hotels, 6 factories and 14 government buildings have been burned down or destroyed. The International Orthodox Tewahedo Alliance (IOTA) strongly condemns the killing of innocent citizens and destruction of their properties throughout the Oromia administrative region in Ethiopia.
These destructions are generally characterized as protests and spontaneous responses to the death of the artist; however, the coordination level of the destruction indicates a premeditated and well-orchestrated execution by an organized group that seeks to target Orthodox Christians. These organized groups have taken hold of some elements of the government to promote these persecutions and deny justice. Some high-level government officials are downplaying and denying these genocidal crimes. Without credible and transparent investigation of these crimes, the country is on the brink of an unimaginable genocide.
IOTA denounces the authorities’ abdication of their sacred duty to protect and defend the defenseless, the hateful rhetoric and incitement of ethnic and religious violence by the media, political activists and organizations. We support the current measures the federal government is taking to combat such actions and hope that there will be a transparent and fair trial for the accused.
We call on the Ethiopian government to protect and defend innocent citizens, rehabilitate those displaced from their homes and those affected by these heinous and gruesome acts of terror and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Finally, we call on the international community to pay close attention to these recurring violent and targeted crimes against Orthodox Christians and ethnic minorities, and support the protection of justice for innocent victims.
Respectfully,
Office of IOTA
office@iotaethio.org
