UN calls for independent probe into religious violence in Ethiopia

GENEVA— United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet denounced a recent deadly Christian-Muslim violence in Ethiopia and called for an immediate probe into the incidents.

“I am deeply distressed by the recent violent clashes between Muslims and Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia in which at least 30 people were reportedly killed and more than 100 others injured,” Bachelet said in a statement.

She urged Ethiopian authorities to allow transparent investigation to bring perpetrators to justice.

In this regard, she urged authorities to promptly initiate and conduct thorough, independent and transparent investigations into each of the deadly incidents and ensure that those found to be responsible are held to account.

The UN rights chief further called for broader action to be taken to reconcile communities in Ethiopia, where Muslims make up about a third of the country’s estimated 115 million population.

The recent religious clashes began in Gondar city of the Amhara region on April 26, during a Muslim funeral in land contested by Christians and Muslims.

“I understand two mosques were burnt and another two partially destroyed in Gondar. In the apparent retaliatory attacks that followed, two Orthodox Christian men were reportedly burnt to death, another man hacked to death, and five churches burnt down in Silt’e zone, in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region, located in the southwest of the country,” Bachelet said.

Since the violent clashes broke out late last month, Ethiopian authorities have so far arrested more than 570 people in at least four cities.

In the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopian authorities Monday arrested 76 people suspected of having links with a religious violence which marred Idd al-Fitr prayers where tens of thousands of Muslims had gathered to mark the end of Ramadan.

“Those arrested must be fully accorded their due process and fair trial rights in accordance with international human rights law, without discrimination,” Bachelet said.

To avert further religious violence, she said, the root causes of this “shocking violence [should be] promptly addressed, with the meaningful engagement of survivors, families and affected communities.”

Since the Gondar incident, religious-related tensions have been high in the Christian dominant Horn of Africa nation.

Following the clashes, the Amhara regional government imposed a curfew in the historic tourist destination city of Gondar as security personnel struggle to quell the violence which was spreading to neighbouring states.

Since 2019, religious violence has been taking a toll on and eroding the country’s historic and strong religious harmony between Muslims and a large Christian majority.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK