Ethiopian Muslims Kill Christian, Burn Churches and Christian Homes in Ongoing Attacks

Washington--International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that today Muslims killed one Christian, burned down another eight churches, a bible school, and 17 Christian homes in stepping up their attacks against Christians in Asendabo, Ethiopia.

Yesterday ICC reported that the attacks started on March 2 after Muslims accused Christians of desecrating the Qur'an. Today's attacks bring the total number of razed churches to 13. More than 150 Christians are now without homes. The attacks have spread to the villages surrounding the town of Asendabo.

Christians are calling on the government of Ethiopia for protection. The Ethiopian government sent federal security forces but they couldn't control ten thousand rioting Muslims from continuing their attacks.

Asendabo is a town located in Jimma Zone, Western Ethiopia. Western Ethiopia was the scene of violent attacks against Christians in 2006 when Muslims killed more than a dozen Christian and burned down several churches. The attacks forces thousands of Christians to leave their homes.

"Ethiopian officials have a responsibility to protect their citizens from attacks. It is outrageous and a violation of their obligation under international human rights law for the government to let Muslims kill Christians and destroy their property. We ask that those concerned would contact the Ethiopian embassy to express their concern and ask for government intervention," said Jonathan Racho, ICC's Regional Manager for Africa. (Source)