6.4 Ethiopia
Ethiopia, officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa, and is the most populous landlocked country in the world. It is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Sudan and South Sudan to the west, and Kenya to the south. According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second-most widely practiced religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million (or 34%) of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615. Islam is the religion of the overwhelming majority of the Somali, Afar, Argobba and Harari, and the largest group of the Oromo peoples of Ethiopia according to the 1994 national census.
Key Temporary Issues in Ethiopia
Discrimination against Muslims
The Ethiopian Muslim community is the third largest Muslim community in Africa. However, due to various factors, they are a social minority in the country despite their great number and being the first community to accept Islam even before a majority of the people in Makkah. Ethiopian Muslims have not been active participants in the affairs of the country until very recently.They were systematically excluded from education. When modern education was started in Ethiopia at the beginning of the 20th century the minister of education was the Pope. Students were expected to learn Christianity together with the academic subjects. Therefore, Muslims never tried to send their children to modern schools lest their children changed their identity and religion.
6.4 Ethiopia
Misrepresentation of Muslims
Ethiopian Premier Meles Zenawi has inflamed tensions with Ethiopian Muslims over his increased interference in their religious affairs, a violation of the Ethiopian Constitution. International media and Islamophobic sites and blogs have been painting the protests in Ethiopia as the product of "radical Islam," with such titles as "Muslim Protests Raise Fear of Radical Islam", whereas the situation is far different. Ethiopian Muslims want basic rights and desire not to be treated as "terrorists."