According to reports received by VOMC, on May 24, as many as one hundred Muslim youth rioted in the streets of the eastern Ethiopian city of Jijiga, throwing stones at the homes and businesses of Christians in the community. The riots apparently began after rumours that a Christian-run restaurant was using pages from the Quran to wrap food.
Three days later, three businesses owned by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians were bombed. Forty-two people were injured in simultaneous attacks on the Central Hotel, London Café and Family Café at around 8:00 p.m. The state-run Ethiopian News Agency referred to the attacks as "futile attempts to disrupt the ongoing development programs in the region." However, VOMC sources in the area report the arrests of a Somali evangelist Hussen Rahafa and two believers named Ishmael and Mohamed who work for a Christian radio station in Kenya. The prisoners are reportedly advising local believers not to visit them in jail for fear of further arrests. The authorities have searched their homes and confiscated tracts, Bible and other Christian literature to be used as evidence against them. The three men have not yet been charged and there is no indication how long they will remain in this legal limbo. In 2005, another evangelist was kept in jail in Jijiga for more than a year without being charged.
Jijiga is located in the Ethiopian state of Somali which is closely affiliated with neighbouring Somalia. People in the state are ninety-eight percent Muslim and are strongly opposed to other religions in a region they want to rule under Islamic ideology.
Pray that those injured in the blasts will fully recover, both emotionally and physically. Pray that the Christians in Jijiga will not be ruled by fear but by Christ (1 Peter 3:14-15). Pray that there will be many who will come to Christ through the testimony of His people (Matthew 5:16). Pray for the three Christians who are in jail. Pray that they will be faithful witnesses to Christ through their bonds. Pray for their timely release.
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Ethiopia, click here.
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