ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia Muslims protested on Friday demanding the government leave their Islamic Council elections alone. It is the latest demonstration by the Muslim community here against what they say is an attempt by the government to have a say in their religious freedoms. Ethiopia's Islamic Affairs Supreme Council is to have new elections on Sunday for leadership after protests in recent months left many frustrated at the government's intervention in their policies and efforts. Campaigning has been under way for the past 10 days, council officials told Bikyamasr.com. Muslims here have accused the government of former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of attempting to push a specific view of Islam against the council and the majority of Muslims in the East African country. Many of those arrested have been accused of inciting violence and remain in jail after being detained by police at local mosques in the country. The council said registration for candidacy began on September 13 for new leadership. Registration of voters is took place in the country's 9 regional states and two city administrations of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. The Ethiopian Ulema Fatwa and Da'awa Council said that the registration process will continue until this Saturday before being closed. The Muslim community has also pushed for unity between Christians and animists in the country in recent months, urging all Ethiopians to come together for change in the country. The same group of Ethiopian Muslim student activists and their Christian friends have lashed out repeatedly at international media coverage of alleged friction between the two religious groups in the East African country. They told Bikyamasr.com earlier this month that “the only turmoil between Christians and Muslims is what the media is making out of the events here." They said that recent crackdowns on Muslims in the country are the result of “ongoing government oppression and should not be seen as a sign of sectarian divides in the country." One of the Christians, Maria, argued that “the media want to show our Muslim sisters and brothers as antagonistic toward Christians, but the reality is that we are all battling the government and its violence against all Ethiopians." Tensions reached their peak on July 13, when the government raided a gathering at the Awalia Mosque in Addis Ababa, where government officials said Muslim leaders were planning further protests. Ethiopian authorities said more than 70 people were arrested in the operation, including the members of the mosque's central organizing committee.
