Ethiopia Jails 20 Muslims on Terrorism-Related Charges

Ethiopia jails Muslims accused of pursuing Sharia state.
Addis Ababa, 05 Rabiul Akhir 1438/04 January 2017 (MINA) – An Ethiopian court on Tuesday sentenced 20 alleged Islamists to up to five and a half years in prison on terrorism-related charges, the state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported according to DPA.

“The defendants were found guilty of harbouring an extremist religious view, thereby opposing any other religious teachings, and also trying to establish an Islamic state in the country that will be ruled by Sharia law,” the court in Addis Ababa was quoted as saying.

Nineteen of the defendants, including a journalist working for a Muslim radio station, were handed jail terms of five and a half years under the east African country’s controversial anti-terrorism law.

One defendant, also a journalist, was only given 4 years and 5 months because of his poor health.

Defence lawyer Mustafa Safi described the verdict as “unfair” and said his clients had suffered “bad treatment” in prison, where they were not allowed to pray. He vowed to appeal against the sentence.

Ethiopia, a strong security ally of the West, is often accused of stifling dissent and jailing opposition groups and critical journalists. The country is currently under a state of emergency declared in October following widespread anti-government protests demanding greater political freedoms.

Muslims have long felt marginalized in Ethiopia and have carried out a number of protests since 2011. Some were met with force, and many protest leaders were jailed. (T/RS05/RS01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)