2022 Woybela Mariam Church police brutality

Short description: Police brutality and religious persecution occurred in Ethiopia

2022 Woybela Mariam Church police brutality

Part of Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)
Location| Woybela Mariam Church, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Date| 20 January 2022 (2022-01-20)
Target| Congregants at feast celebration
Weapons|

* Handgun
* Tear gas

Deaths| 3
Injured| 10
Motive|

* Oromo extremism
* Anti-Orthodox
* Anti-Ethiopianism

Accused|

* Oromo Liberation Front
* Oromo Liberation Army

On 20 January 2022, a group of Oromia police officers fired at Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo followers while the congregants transporting Ark of the Covenant to Woybela Mariam Church during feast day of Saint Michael in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing three people from direct gunshot, and injured ten other people.[1]

## Event

The Oromia police began assaulting the congregants of Orthodox Tewahedo while they transporting the Ark of the Covenant to Woybela Mariam Church during the feast day of Saint Michael. They threw tear gas to the children's choir to stop ritual progression. The mayhem was motivated when they saw the flag of Ethiopia shirt weared by the congregants at the celebration and they start to extort them. Three people were killed by the police brutality—both were from direct gunshot—at Alert Hospital in Addis Ababa while ten people were critically injured.[2][3]

## Response

The event stirred up criticism directed to Abiy Ahmed's government, who was blamed for not quickly responded to the action. Abune Melke Tsadek, Archbishop of Addis Ababa, had decision to keep the Ark of the Covenant to Keraneyo Medhanealem Church. Oromo Liberation Front and Oromo Liberation Army jointly accused for alleged massacre. In aftermath, the Ethiopian Orthodox followers began mobilizing to resume the solemn progression.[2]

## References

1. ↑ "Ethiopian gov't continue to arrest journalist after State of Emergency is lifted" (in en-US). 2022-02-17. https://borkena.com/2022/02/17/ethiopian-govt-continue-to-arrest-journalist-after-state-of-emergency-is-lifted/.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Oromia police killed at least three Orthodox church followers during epiphany celebration in Addis Ababa" (in en-US). 2022-01-21. https://borkena.com/2022/01/21/ethiopia-oromia-police-killed-at-least-three-orthodox-church-followers/.
3. ↑ "በአዲስ አበባ ታቦት በማስገባት ሥነ ሥርዓት ላይ በተከሰተ ችግር የሰው ሕይወት ጠፋ" (in am). 2022-01-21. https://www.bbc.com/amharic/60079249.

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