Several people, including police officers and civilians, suffered minor and serious injuries, and two civilians were killed during a police crackdown against Muslim protesters in Addis Ababa on Friday afternoon. The protests broke out following the demolition of mosques in the newly formed Shaggar city, formerly known as Oromia Special Zone Surrounding Finfinne, and the protesters demanded an end to the demolitions. The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of the Oromia Regional State said that 19 mosques were illegally demolished in Shaggar City, and earlier they had requested that the government stop the demolitions and return to resolving the problem through dialogue.
Although the Addis Abeba police said that only four individuals were injured, and 37 police officers and members deployed to enforce the law received serious and minor injuries and were sent for treatment, it remains unclear if the two victims were killed by police. A delegation led by Sheikh Haj Ibrahim Tufa met with security forces in the city on Friday night to discuss the matter and have agreed for the police to reopen the two mosques that were closed. Prominent Islamic scholars have denounced the police’s actions and demanded justice for the victims.
