Ethiopia's Muslims have been protesting 'state interference' in their affairs for the past six months. Could government accusations of Muslim extremism risk greater tension? - CS Monitor reports. (Photo: Main entrance of Anwar Mosque in Addis Ababa from Ethio Muslims Online's Famous Mosques in Ethiopia)
By William Davison, Correspondent
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – Protests at mosques in religiously-diverse Ethiopia have stretched into their sixth month as Muslims object to what they see as unconstitutional government interference in their affairs.
Since December, worshipers at Friday prayers nationwide have been criticizing the state’s alleged attempts to impose the al Ahbash, a moderate sect of Islam, on the community via an unrepresentative, politicized Islamic Supreme Affairs Council. Officials deny any interference.
The protest movement in most major cities among the nation’s 30 to 40 million Muslims – about one-third of Ethiopia’s population – has been largely peaceful and contained to mosque compounds.
