by Teklemichael Abebe
The Trial and the Documentary
The documentary “Jihadawi Harekat”, sponsored by the state-owned television and security forces in Ethiopia that I
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| A crowd of protesters outside the Anawar mosque on July 15. Photo by our Observer, Aman. |
watched on youtube a week ago is indicative of the terrible political
status of Ethiopia. Basically, the documentary aims to convince the
viewer that the “terrorism” witnessed in Afghanistan, Mali and Nigeria
is coming to our own backyard through the Muslim activists who are
presently on trial.
In one of the unedited parts of the documentary, a frightened,
harmless-looking young man sits in a chair before his
torturers/interrogators. He speaks with a soft low voice.
When his voice
betrays him, he gestures with his head. Whenever his interrogators
raise their voices, change their tone or argue with him, he just nods in
agreement as if to free himself from their torture or as if to rid
himself of his tormentors. The young man looks exhausted and desperate.
Comparing the last picture taken of him before his arrest to the picture
in the documentary shows the suffering he has undergone over the last
six months since his detention in late July, 2012.
The state-owned television showed the six-part documentary on all of
its channels (Channel 1, 2, 3, 4 …). The trials of over 29 muslim
Ethiopians who are accused of planning to commit terrorst activities or
engaging in terrorism in Ethiopia are being held in a special chamber,
close to the notorious Kality prison on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. It
is alleged in the documentary that Muslim activists were working day
and night to establish an Islamic State of Ethiopia. That is an idea I
believe even Allah-God himself does not have. It never occurred to the
rebel-turned-government that if God is purposeful, he doesn’t dream of
an Islamic Ethiopia. As Sheikh Muhammod Said, an 82 year-old Ethiopian
resident of Toronto, said at a fundraiser in December 2012, “Ethiopian
Muslims could not even dream, let alone think of forming an Islamic
state.”
The Ethiopian government sees in the Believers what the Believers
themeslves could never dream of. If even countries with Muslim
majorities, such as Turky, vow to defend their secular statehood to the
death, how could minority Muslims wish to form an Islamic State of
Ethiopia where they form only one third of the nation? (Of course, I
understand some Muslims do not accept this census). In any case, the
idea of forming an Islamic government, as alleged by the late-dictator
Zenawi and his successors, is insanity of the highest form. The sole
purpose of the allegation is to generate fear and anxiety among
Christian Ethiopians.
Even more insane is the government’s audacity in showing the
documentary on TV. The documentary is intended to have a double impact:
to frighten ordinary Christian Ethiopians into believing that terrorists
are coming into their own backyards, and to thinking that the
government protecting them from Islamist fanatics who were conspiring to
spill blood in Ethiopia. This is a believable story for Christians who
have lost their churches or loved ones because of some rowdy outlaws. It
is the one-sided conclusion of a dicatator. Of course, many will heed
it.
Unintended consequence and the Danger
Here is the unintended consequence of the documentary that the
producers either did not have the intelligence to foresee, or wilfully
chose to ignore. Ethiopian Mulims could be inspired by the acts of
savagery that the detainees have suffered. Any sane Muslim would not be
happy to see their fellow Muslims being tortured, humiliated, and
paraded on TV in an undignified manner. Any muslim, including those who
have disagreement and difference with the detainees, even those who are
in the TPLF camp, will regret this acts of cruelity by the TPLFites.
What the government labled as criminals or terrorists will be heroes in
the heart of every muslim and rational christians. The persistence of
the Muslims’ resistance in various forms despite the attacks on their
leaders over the 12 months and the big demonstrations we saw in the last
couple of Fridays in Addis Ababa are good illustrations.
The dangerous consequence of the video, which will be very
unfortunate if it happens, is that this movement will be more of a
religious issue that concerns only the Muslims than a justice issue that
concerns every Ethiopian or humanity as Obang Metho says. Those
Ethiopians, especially the Christians, who are vulnerable to the
deceptive and sensitive narration of the Jihadists undertaking to
control Ethiopia that the TPLFites are alleging, will definitely side
with the government on this matter.
What shall we do?
Here is my position. The burden is on us to keep this movement a
struggle for justice; not a struggle for religious dominancy. The only
way all Ethiopians can become part of the Muslim’s struggle is if their
struggle is a struggle for justice; for the rule of law. That is the
only way to abort the governments’ effort to divide Christian and Muslim
Ethiopians. As I stated earlier, the documentary aims to keep Muslims
and Christians apart; to make one enemy of the other. To make one look
like a threat to the other; to instill suspicion in each other’s heart.
We should not surrender to that trap. That is the TPLFites’ trap; they
only target their immediate success and they sacrifice whatever they
control, including us, to gain short-term victory.
The solution for this
is very clear; we should make the Muslims’ demand a demand for civil
and political rights.
The problem Muslim Ethiopians currently face stems from the absence
of responsible civilized government that is elected by and accountable
to its own people. The detention of innocent Ethiopians did not start
with the detention Muslim activists. It was there before July 2012. Jehadawi Harekat is also a continuation of Akeldama
and other pre and post-2005 documentaries produced by the government to
either create fear among the public or influence the outcome of a mock
trial. The detention of the Muslim activists is also part and parcel of
the violent onslaught the TPLF government unleashed over the peaceful
democratic forces of Ethiopia (political parties, journalists and labour
unions), over the last 22 years. What ties the detentions, abuses,
including the attack on the Muslim activists, and the persecution,
together is that they are all perpetrated by an illegitimate government
that does not respect its own constitution. The Muslims’ question is
therefore a political one whatever hard some try to avoid that label.
Other than making the movement a political one, fellow Muslim
Ethiopians should refrain from any kind of action that fuels the
accusations of the government and the fear of non-Muslim Ethiopians. One
good example I personally disagree with and many friends confided in me
is their concern about the speech by the Egyptian American Sheik at the
first year anniversary of the Muslims’ protest that was held a couple
of weeks ago in Washington, DC. The speech was for most part a great
tribute paid to Ethiopia’s contribution to the survival of Islam.
However, the speaker’s reference to the state/government of Ethiopia as a
“Christian government” did not settle well with many people. That kind
of reference has the power of destroying the great message the Sheikh
delivered. Therefore, I advise Muslim activists to be cautious when they
invite guest speakers at their events.
The remark made by the MC at the above-noted occasion also made some
of us uncomfortable. The MC said that the Sheikh was so intelligent that
every time the Muslim Ethiopians at the First Hijera discuss about what
to do in Ethiopia to demand their rights, they turn to the Egyptian
American Sheikh for advice. This is a confirmation of the government’s
allegation that the Muslim protesters were supported and incited by
outsiders. Knowing that Egypt and Ethiopia are long-time rivals, turning
to an Egyptian Muslim, seeking an advice about what we do in Ethiopia
is both misguided and dangerous.
The author, Teklemichael Abebe (LL.B, LL.M), is an intern with
Mangat Law Professinoal Corporation in Toronto, Ontario. He can be
reached at abebetekle@gmail.com
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