Ethiopia-A Beacon to Religious Tolerance!
As it served an epitome to economic growth these days, harnessing its age- old culture of religious tolerance Ethiopia has to prove a center of excellence for managing diversity. Universities that produce reform armies are institutions where differences in outlooks and beliefs are sagaciously handled in a win-win strategy.
Apart from historical backdrops there is a need to understand current affairs at national, continental and international levels as well as identify issues that beg for a consensus to not fall prey to agents that want to sell their motives under the guise of religion.
These remarks were made on 16 May 2012 by the noted lecturers Ato WoldeSelase WoldeMicheal and Dr.Mohammed Abudulahe at a panel discussion ECSU organized for students and staff members at Abay hall in its premise under the theme 'Religious Extremism and International Terrorism'.
Ato WoldeSelase, who presented a paper on Radicalism and Extremism, said
" Religions, just like other ideologies, are in the change process and as such there is conflict between those that want to maintain the old and proponents of the new."
He also said radicalism is holding one's belief tight while extremism is imposing one's belief on others. Extremism, he noted, is a disastrous trend that courts danger on followers of other faiths .He also noted extremism, though the extent varies, was manifested in all religions.
According to him extremism mainly caused by grievances, injustice, exploitation and the promotion of self interest by western powers could metamorphoses into terrorism. He said though terrorism is given different definitions by different parties having their own interest, a consensus is reached by member countries of the United Nations that any activity that targets and harm innocent civilians must be taken as terrorism.
He also said terrorism that has been manifested in different forms has now turned a global threat and added East Africa, which has proximity to the Middle East, has been subject to it.
He noted there is a group that entertains a desire to use the Christianity in Ethiopia to counter the terrorist act in the horn of Africa in one hand and another group that aspires to place an Islamic state in Ethiopia and advance up to South Africa on the other hand.
He further noted these trends show the presence of parties that want to execute their hidden political agendas. Ethiopia is caught in the crossfire of terrorism charged politics, he said, and stressed the need to keep a pelted eye on any form of extremism.
After noting Ethiopia's being a secular country, where religions enjoy equal rights, he said, Ethiopians were living harmoniously even before their rights were fully respected leave alone at this time religions are put on equal footing by the Federal Constitution.Extremist movements by no means represent the people, he reflected his stance.
Conflicts that surfaced in Jimma and IlluAbabora were found to be the instigations of rent seekers and those who incurred political crisis, he said, and added it is together the Muslims and Christians rebuilt burnt down Churches and Mosques.
Dr. Mohammed on his part explained about the historic background of International and African Legal/Policy framework on extremism and terrorism as well as the conventions and resolutions made since 1934 such as the suppression of terrorist bombings, the suppression of financing of terrorism as well as the suppression of nuclear terrorism.
He said
"it is a paradox the compliant Ethiopia's antiterrorist laws encountered by the organization that urges countries to adopt declaration aimed at averting terrorism."
A post graduate student in public administration Shebre Jorga had presented a paper entitled Freedom of Faith and Equality of Religions in Light of the Federal Constitution. She said the constitution has made clear people's right to preach their religion at the appropriate place in so far as they don't coerce others to accept their beliefs. This restriction by no means could be taken as the government's interference in religious affairs as the government has the responsibility of seeing the well being of its citizens and their properties, she noted.
She further noted offices and educational institutions have their set objectives and as such they shouldn't turn into Churches and Mosques. In a concluding remark, she noted, Ethiopia has no room for terrorism and for those that pursue a different agenda under extremism.After the presentation of the three papers the questions participants posed run as follows.
There was an Ethiopian King who respectfully and hospitably allowed messengers of the prophet Mohammed to feel at home in Ethiopia. What is then something new? Why should Terrorists want to make Ethiopia their Trojan- Horse?
To nip terrorism in the bud, as a preemptive measure why doesn't the government study the teachings of religious leaders?
If God is omnipotent and omnipresent why should we fight for Him while He could do that by Himself? If somebody doesn't want to go to paradise why should he be killed? Besides is it not peace all religions preach?
Facts on the ground show double standards and injustices could push people into terrorism, a war in which no one emerges triumphant, is it not therefore better to work on the cause than the effect?
Comments given by participants consist of: it sure is good to thoroughly know one's religion. Religion preaches peace but terrorists putting on the garment of religion preach shedding blood.
Tolerance is a blessing Ethiopians enjoyed all along the road from the days of yore. Ethiopians have to put the vision of their country above petty feelings of dissension.
Responding to the questions at WoldeSelase noted it is up to religious leaders and the faithful to check the teachings of their preachers; the government doesn't interfere in religion.
In his opening and closing remarks ECSU's President Dr.Hailemichael Aberra, who moderated the panel, noted expanding the frontier of one's knowledge through formal ways in class and informal ways through discussion pays. It is good to keep informed about global trends for a peaceful co-existence, he said.
He also said
" Ethiopia at this time needs a reform army having a development oriented mentality. It needs citizens that loath poverty".
He also said, " I like the questions students continuously raise for panel discussions and public lectures!" and promised the trends will continue in the future.
It was noted that Ato WoldeSelase, who is author of the book Terrorism in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, is a lecturer at various universities .Dr. Mohammed is a lecturer in ECSU's Institute of Federalism and Law.
The public relation officer Ato Wondimu Moges said the university has been organizing panel discussions and public lectures of national, continual and global interest.
He further said
" what makes the panel on Religious Extremism and International Terrorism different is its being a subject of discussion in different corners of the country in one way or another."