Badr Ethiopia is very pleased with the recent display of a peaceful and successful demonstration organized and conducted by Ethiopian Muslims in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

This act of civil and democratic expression was implemented to protest the Majlees’s arbitrary and preposterous dismissal of the Aweliya School administrators, teachers and religious leaders in unprovoked and arrogant manner. It is becoming increasing evident that the hand-picked governors of the so-called Ethiopian Supreme Islamic Affairs Council (i.e. Majlees) neither genuinely represent the Ethiopian Muslims nor act in the best interest of Ethiopia. They have utterly failed in the spirit and execution of the highest goals of this national institution. In fact, they have become obstacles to peace, development and growth of our native land. In that light, Badr Ethiopia supports the peaceful demonstration of the people to show their grievances and displeasure with the Majlee’s ill-fated actions on the Aweliya School and the negative repercussions confronting the students who are the most harmed in this operation.

We request the Ethiopian government to continue addressing the concerns of the people and the Aweliya students as well as their parents regarding these unwise and destructive activities of the Majlees, which seems to continue operating by misrepresenting the Ethiopian Muslims with absolute impunity. This manner of operation and behavior of a public institution does not bode well for a people or country on a trajectory for growth and development.

We pray that amicable solutions will be found to the Awaliya School problem by consulting and including knowledgeable leaders from the community in a dialog that is fair and free of government or Majlees influence. Badr is encouraged by this peaceful demonstration and hopes it will have a good outcome. We also urge the Ethiopian government to continue empowering peaceful people like the ones who participated in the demonstration so that they can be encouraged to think as stakeholders in the advancement of their lives and the growth of their country.

Badr Ethiopia
Washington DC