Rally to Protest Attacks on Ethiopian Orthodox Churches Postponed

ADDIS ABEBA – A rally to denounce growing attacks Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Churches and ask government’s protection has been postponed, the organizers said.

The demonstration, organized by a Committee drawn from ten Organizations related to the church, was originally scheduled to be held in Addis Abeba on Sunday.

The organizers told reporters on Friday that the demonstration was meant to protest mounting attacks on Ethiopia’s oldest church.

It has now been called off temporarily after the organizing committee has held meetings with regional and federal police officials as well as prime minister Abiy Ahmed, they said.

During the meetings, the government pledged to respond to their various demands, according to the committee.

The committee says it will inform the public about the progress made to stop the attacks by the government fortnightly.

“If no progress is made, the protest will go ahead on November 10,” said Seife Alemayehu, general secretary of the office of Mahbere Kidusan, one of the ten organizers of the meeting.

Reports say attacks on the Ethiopian Orthodox Churches, including the burning of churches and attacks on the followers as well as priests, have increased in many parts of the country recently.

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By Sisay Sahlu