Ethiopian Muslims-Christians in Ottawa Rally calls on Canada to halt support for dictatorship (ethio media)OTTAWA -- Ethiopian Canadians on June 5 took to the streets of Ottawa and condemned the ongoing human rights violations in the Horn of Africa nation. The protesters were mainly drawn from Toronto and Ottawa. Amid the demonstrating crowd in the capital which is also a touristic destination for many, bystanders were very surprised to see Muslims and Christians side by side protesting the lack of freedom of religion, ethnic cleansing in different parts of Ethiopia, the genocide and the land grab in Ethiopia, the crackdown against journalists and political dissidents, as well as the crackdown on religious and political leaders. Reverend Mesale Enguede of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Exile and Mr. Abu Rashid of the Ethiopian Muslim Council spoke on the occasion about the ancient history of Ethiopia the harmonious coexistence of the two religions centuries. Reverend Mesale Engude said that "Ethiopia has had so many problems in the past but she overcame them with the courage and determination of her own children. Mr Abu Rashid also expressed his anger towards the Ethiopian government's effort to impose alien doctrine on Muslim Ethiopians. He wondered how would a government select and impose a certain sect over all other Muslims. Abu Rashid stated that "the Let Our Voice Be Heard" struggle will continue until a fully democratic state is created in Ethiopia. Shortly after the two religious leaders spoke to the gathered crowd, opposition Member of Parliament, and a friend of Ethiopia, Paul DEWER raised his concern about the serious human right offenses committed by the Ethiopian government. Mr. Obang Metho, founder of SMNE, human rights activists and community leaders also took part in the rally. The demonstrators called upon the government of Canada to condemn the human rights violations in Ethiopia and stop supporting the repressive regime in that country. Some of the slogans chanted by the activists were "Justice for Murdered Ethiopians", "Canada should condemn government interference in religion in Ethiopia", " Democracy Now in Ethiopia," "Canada: Say No to Ethnic Cleansing and Religious Suppression in Ethiopia," "Muslims and Christians are United in Ethiopia."
- Category
- Dimtsachen Ysema Tegel Video
mashaaAllah