This year’s Eid al Fitr celebration is special as Ethiopian Muslims also celebrate their unity and peace.
borkena
June 4,2019
Ethiopian Muslims celebrated the 1440th Eid al Fitr holiday across the country. In the capital Addis Ababa, it was celebrated the city’s stadium. Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Council President, Mufti Haji Omar, and Addis Ababa city’s acting Mayor, Takele Uma have attended the ceremony, among other dignitaries.
“This year’s Eid is marked by unity and peace,” Mufti Haji Omar told hundreds of thousands of faithful gathered at the Stadium, as reported by Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC). He cited the role of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in forming peace and unity committee for Ethiopian Muslim and expressed his gratitude.
“It was unprecedented in the history of the country that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed prepared an iftar evening,” he added making a reference to the Iftar evening organized at the Millennium Hall on May 22.
He went on to say as to what makes this year’s Eid prayer a special one; “Christian brothers and sisters” have cleaned prayer places for Eid Salat and he called on for the respect and unity to be nationwide.
Turn out during Eid prayer in the capital Addis Ababa is said to be a record high today and police reported no incident, what so ever.
Ethiopian Muslims launched a civil rights movement some seven years ago to oppose government intervention in the affairs of Ethiopian Muslims. A 17 members committee was organized with a mandate to search for a solution. The government reacted by arresting prominent members of the committee and charged them with alleged terrorism. It even went to the extent of doing a documentary film entitled “jihadi harakat” to incriminate the committee members. They were tortured and forced to confess under duress the charges.
The committee members were released from prison after the ruling party decided to “broaden the democratic space” and release political prisoners. Now, some of the committee members are appointed to the truth and reconciliation, and Identity and Boundary Dispute commission, among other things.
When Prime Mnister Abiy Ahmed appeared the grand iftar evening at the Millenium Hall on May 22, he told the crowd that they are now allowed to have Islamic bank in the country.
As well, he pledged them that he would support construction of a grand mosque in the capital Addis Ababa.
Indeed, this year’s Eid-al-Fatir is special for Ethiopian Muslims.
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