Ethiopian police arrested about 55 people in Addis Ababa on Friday during the Meskel celebration, one of the Ethiopian Orthodox (Tewahido) Church’s
BBC Amharic cites the church’s Addis Ababa Diocese’s public relations head, Melake Hiwot Aba Woldeyesus as saying that 33 of them were arrested for wearing t-shirts with messages denouncing the attacks on the church. The public relations head was quoted as saying that four persons were arrested for not wearing their name badges and 12 others for allegedly carrying knives and edged weapons.
On Thursday, authorities issued a statement warning the display of flags that they say are unconstitutional and carry provocative messages, including the green, yellow and red- striped flag, without the star insignia on it.
Tens of thousands of Orthodox followers crammed Meskel square in Addis Ababa on Friday to celebrate Meskel, a celebration that commemorates the “Finding of the True Cross”, the cross upon which Jesus is believed to have been crucified.
Recently, there have been angry demonstrations in different parts of the country condemning the surge in violence against the Orthodox Church members and the burning of churches. Thirty churches, mostly Ethiopian Orthodox, have been attacked, 18 have been burned to the ground, and almost 100 worshippers have been killed since July 2018, activists say.
A little while back, a competing faction from the Oromo ethnic group demanded an independent synod, a move that has angered the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox leader. “The church condemns the divisive and destructive activities carried out by these people who by deliberately propagate falsehood by making it sound as if the Oromo, honourable people who have done much for the church, were wrongfully treated by the church,” the Patriarch’s office said in a statement.
Main Image: Radio Fana
