N E G A S H I - OJ

In reporting various incidents and happenings in Ethiopian educational institutions, to be specific the continued problems Muslim students are facing, Negashi OJ referred often to a document the Ministy of Education drafted and about to implement. It has been awhile since I received the first draft but have been waiting to get on the revised edition of the document so that I could provide my readers with the latest update. I have finally hold on this latest and revised document. It might be important to have a look at the first draft as well. For this I have uploaded both documents, PDF.

First Draft Document (May 2007), 651 kB

Revised Draft Document (Nov., 2007), 3,77 MB - The document was scanned at high resolution, thus so big size. Patience when in downloads.

The documents are in Amharic. For the benefit of my rearders who don’t understand Amharic, the English and Arabic translation of the document will soon be  available. In the mean time let me add here a summery of the message contained in the document:

Principal Points in the Document

The latest document does not differ much from the first draft. In fact it made various items clearer and some of the provisions that we have seen in the first draft are now abrogated leaving no room for students to practice their religion. The following are specific alert points especially for Muslims.

GENERAL

• The law is to be applied in all government and private institutions from the very kindergarten to Universities;
• The initiative is claimed to stem from the need to implement in these institutions the constitutional provisions with regard to religious equality (Art. 25), religious Freedom (Art. 27) and independence of education from such factors as religion and politics (Art. 90)
• Religious equality and independence of education is to be realised by “denying students the rights of religious freedom”, the very basic provision of the constitution.

SPECIFIC ISSUES

Dressing Code:

• Muslim female students in schools where there is school uniform may wear “Hijab” - headscarf - but the law forbid them from wearing Jilbab (the dress itself) and Niqab.
• In institutions where there is no school uniform, the law does not provide any clear guarantee that Muslim students may dress themselves as per their religious prescription.

Salat:

• Congregational prayer is forbidden, even in dormitories.
• Islamic prayer, which involves both voice (laud recitation) and physical movement - is forbidden even on individual basis (art. 7.4 and 7.5).
• The possibility for Muslim students to celebrate their various Islamic celebrations is left at the mercy of their administration.
• It forbids the student community from receiving and circulating religious materials.

Food

• There is no provision for the month of Ramadhan.
• Students may not take food out from the restaurant (Art. 8.3) . Given no provision is made for Ramadhan, the law put the very obligatory fast in danger, though no clear restriction is put. (here we see one important diffference in the two documents).

Time

• The document envisages the 30 min pauze to be between 3u45 and 4:15 for certain schools but provide for others the permission to determine the suitable time by themselves. Hereby no provision is made for students to observe the weekly Friday prayer. (This is another important differnence one comes across in the two documents).

Scope of Application

• The law is applicable on all the communities of Ethiopian educational institutions across the country - campus resident Muslim staff and administrative members are bound to be held by this law and regulation.

Miscellaneous

• The law endorses and provide protection to religious houses that so far are serving the university community. As no institution has a recognised praying place for Muslims (only in AAU-Sidist Kilo and Arba Minch Civil Cervice Collage Muslim students are provided with small rooms to use for offering their prayer), by this provision, the demand of only a section of the university community (the Orthodox Christian community to be specific) may partly be fulfilled.

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By: S. Tahir

This short article’s main premise is to dispel the notion that Ethiopian Muslim youth are out of touch with reality; thus prone to provoke frictions in an otherwise very peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Ethiopia. Of course this blame is hurtled at the Ethiopian Muslim youth who are portrayed as being unruly simply because they have become more vocal of their rights than their predecessors. While I am not surprised by the accusations emanating from non-Muslims, it is unfortunate to hear that some Muslims with good intention may be expressing the same sentiment toward our youth.

The recent events in Chagni and Mekele University where the rights of the Muslim student’s basic human rights was trampling upon and the reaction by the students sent a strong and unequivocal message to those who seem to be so determined to stunt the potential progress of Ethiopian Muslims. And particularly the youth, by placing various artificial façade in order to nip it in the bud before it germinates. Putting the Students in a dichotomy by asking them to choose between their faith and education, is once of those facades playing out in the open and as such we have to be alert to their ploys.

Those who are in the helm of power in the country were the youth of yesterday who spent their youth fighting injustice. It is ironic that they fail to understand that when injustice is perpetrated it is the youth that shoulder the brunt of responsibility to correct the injustice and the Muslims Students in this case are not an exception. How could this glaring reality be hidden from them unless they are purposely ignoring this obvious facts. If we read our Islamic history it shows that it was the youth who played an important role in changing the course of history.

I fully concur that it is imperative for the youth to draw some lessons from their history however; they do not have to necessarily tread the same route as their forefathers to register the same success as time has changed. The availability of technological advances in communications where information is readily available at their finger tip has created conducive environment in which students of one institution are not operating in isolation anymore. And therefore, any attempt to subjugate Muslims by deploying the ploy of divide and rule will not yield any fruit as it has no place in today’s world. Previous rulers excelled and refined the art of segregating Ethiopian Muslims in such a manner that Muslims in one region are not aware of what is taking place in the other and this strategy served them very well.

The reaction to the Makele university incident, the students’ demand as well as the solidarity demonstrated by students from other universities in the country is a clear indication of the change that is taking place. Therefore with the advent of instant communications, students of higher learning institutitions are keeping in touch and getting better informed, thus comprehending the importance of operating in unison and in forming coalition with their brothers and sisters. This is indeed gratifying and an encouraging milestone in the history of Ethiopian Muslim community.

While this is a positive sign, we still have a long way to go before we truly see a meaningful change. As we attempt to step forward, we will still be faced with some more barriers as there are those who cling to the notion of Ethiopia as a country of Christians only and are not prepared to accept the reality on the ground. Therefore the real motive behind the incident in Mekele and Chagni should not be viewed separately but rather they should be viewed from the same prism and as an effort to continue the stats quo. There will always be those who look at the current changes and the assertiveness of Ethiopian Muslims and particularly the youth with contempt, and continue to reminisce at their past glory with nostalgia. They are well advised to adjust themselves to the new reality. For those who have been following the history of Ethiopia in relation to the Atses and Kings and what is taking place now, it is a deja vous. On the one hand, they preach that Ethiopians are free to practice their faith without the interference of the state and on the other hand they cannot bear the reality unfurling in front of their eyes.

We have to support our youth and instil in them sense of responsibility so that they will continue to demand what is rightly theirs. Ethiopian Muslim youth are becoming increasingly assertive and this will continue unabated as they become more aware of their rights and obligations. Therefore, blaming them for demonstrating their assertiveness and failing to tackle the root cause is indeed a counterproductive.

It was already reported that Mekelle University issued a final call for Muslim Students to return back to the campus and start with their studies. At the back of this letter which carried a final ultimatum for students, there has been an intensive discussion underway to find a just way out. This yielded an acceptable deal where students may finally agree to return back to the campus and follow further for final settlement as the issue is no more an isolated case but a national issue.

Under this agreed upon understanding, students may continue offering their prayers in Jama’a as they have been doing so far. With regard to Friday prayer, students may use a plote of land next to the university. Until the crisis students use to perform thier Friday prayers on the football field of the campus. As prayer for Islam is not space  bound but time, this deal is welcome by students.

The measure which Mekelle University became first to implement is not an issue of the University as such but an effort to implement a document that was released by the Ministry of Education on the rules and regulations Ethiopian educational institutions must follow. 

For such measure that has come down from the top office, the reaction has to be also to that scale - at national level. Congnizant of this fact, students decided to return to their campus and continue for a fair and acceptable regulation.

In the mean time, the PM Ato Meles Zenawi is reported to have commented on the issue at a moment he met academicians from Ethiopian higher institutions on Saturday 01. 12. 2007. Though he presented the case first incorrectly, he felt later the need to let all stock holders (students and the rest of the university community) discuss and enrich the proposed document. According to the information that reached him, students of Mekelle university asked for a plot of land to build Mosque inside the campus and for laud speakers to be installed each and every building, a demand that is impossible to realize. This incorrect presentation of the situation in MU was checked by a staff from Mekelle University who informed the PM that students did not present any new demand but keep the status quo that was accepted by the university so far.

This is a great success for all those who stand for respect for the basic right of Ethiopians to practice their religion and the fundamental principles of freedom and equality of worship. This does not mean however that the issue is solved for good. Both the individual and coordinated effort of students we so far seen need to continue. As the issue has far reaching implication than just what students face inside their campus, the actions of students need to be encouraged and get all the support it needs.

The information Negashi OJ received indicates that the document was rejected by the Ulema Association but endorsed by the notorious Elias. This man told the AAU students proudly that no one has prevented Muslims from offering their prayers and what is forbidden and what his office agreed about was Jama’a Salat and Islamic Dress.

Mekelle university sent a last warning letter to Muslim students to the city Mosque. Police brought the letter and posted on the gates and walls of the Mosque. The letter gives students a last ultimatum to return back to campus and start their studies. It further tells that a student who fail to report before Tuesday will be dismissed from the university. It is not clear yet what the position of the Muslim students is with regard to this latest altimatum.

In the mean Adama University applied the regulation that prevents Muslim students from praying inside their campus. Students are discussing their options to fight for their right of study as any citizen of the country without being coerced for their being Muslims. Leaving the campus is one option they are considering.

On both these developments, more is on the line. Check me back.

By Sadik Ahmed

People are free to believe, they are the only authorize personnel to acquire their own divine belief. It is a natural justification to worship and bow-down for the creator of nature, one can be free to imagine his own God and devout him self for his Imagination. If freedom of religion adhered in a society this common sense and thought of faith will create a meaningful joy for the believer.

Whenever the inhabitants initiate to obstruct this ordinary decree a painful friction may possibly occur, peace will get distortion, love and brotherhood will be in jeopardy. Apparently, the universal harmony of citizens faces inevitable hostility.

Based on Ethiopian historical facts supremacy of one religion was subscribed as the ultimate solution of the country. For the sake of unity and development we need to maintain a clear distinction between freedoms of religion along with superiority of a religion.

Since the rising of DERGU freedom of religion was gained as a form of equality. Furthermore, freedom of religion is clearly declared in the constitution of the current government. However, constitution with lacking of Implementation could open the door for antagonism.

We should examine what happen in Chagni-Gonder and what is going on in Mekele this is a clear indication of ongoing injustice and a deliberate act of discrimination within the school system by minority stereotype school officials.

The Salat (prayer)

Based on Islamic rule praying five times a day is obligatory, there is no compromise to skip it but with few legitimate reasons. If the students are allowed to enjoy their break time under the tree or at the top of grass in enthusiastic or unenthusiastic conduct, why the school administrators spot the Muslim students? Does bowing-down at the top of the grass hurting? Or running around teasing one another? As we are attempting to practice our way of life on the unfasten territory we do not have to be expert to answer those questions but mindful.

The Hijab (head-scarf)

The derogatory Hollywood customs are creating erosion on the heavenly regulations and cultural values. It is not strange to sort out substantial victims of this so-called civilization of Hollywood in Ethiopian school system. If some students are tolerable to wear miniskirts, why the school administrators are not tolerable for modest Muslim women? As we are free to choose computable fashion for us on the open market of this age of group we don’t have to be expert to answer this ordinary inquiry but open-minded.