@solassefa@hamid3045 https://t.co/Ke9kmuxp69
This petition has garnered over 15 million signatures, making it the largest petition for a country in history. Thereโs a good reason for this!
24-yo Polish woman arrested for swiping a sword from iconic Fencer statue in Wrocลaw
She was filmed removing the replica blade, as the original sword had already been removed for safekeeping
Police say she faces theft and vandalism charges
๐จ @AbiyAhmedAli ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฐ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐๐จ๐ฑ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐ง, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ก ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐
According to local sources, Ethiopian authorities have started arresting prominent Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church clergy and religious teachers in what observers believe is a crackdown on voices that publicly condemned the recent massacre of Orthodox Christians in Asko Woreda of East Arsi Zone, Oromia Region.
The arrests follow reports that more than 53 Orthodox Christians were killed, over 280 remain missing, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and the historic 101-year-old Telata Chefa St. Gabriel Church was burned during a large-scale attack allegedly carried out by Oromo Liberation Army (OLA/Shene) militants against Orthodox Christian communities in East Arsi Zone between May 31st to June 2nd.
Among those arrested is Deacon Zelalem Taye, a well-known young gospel preacher recognized for his teaching, counseling work, and extensive service to Orthodox Sunday schools. He was reportedly detained in Addis Ababa and is believed to have been targeted after writing about the killings of Christians in Arsi.
Priest Getnet Aytenew, a prominent Orthodox priest known for his educational content on social media and his commentary on church affairs, was also reportedly arrested. Sources indicate his detention is linked to his writings regarding the massacre of Orthodox Christians in Arsi.
Authorities also detained Priest Dr. Mezgebu Kassa, a respected theologian, researcher, author, and former Chief Executive Officer of EOTC TV. Dr. Mezgebu is known for numerous theological publications, including the book Betrรฉ Haymanot and the internationally published Theanthropic Ethics in Conversation with Autonomy and Heteronomy. He is being held at the Federal Police detention center in Mexico Square, Addis Ababa.
In addition, Yeneta Betre Mariam Abebaw, a prominent Orthodox scholar and educator known for making traditional church teachings widely accessible through digital platforms, was arrested in Gonder City. He is the author of several widely circulated works on Orthodox theology, apologetics, and Geโez language studies.
The arrests have generated concern among church followers and observers, who note that all four individuals are known primarily for religious teaching, theological scholarship, and public advocacy. Reports from multiple sources suggest that the detentions may be connected to their public statements and writings regarding the killings, destruction of churches, and humanitarian crisis affecting Orthodox Christian communities in East Arsi Zone.
The wave of arrests comes amid growing criticism of the governmentโs response to the violence, with local sources alleging that survivors remain trapped in affected areas while humanitarian assistance faces significant obstacles in reaching displaced and wounded civilians.
The attacks on Ethiopiaโs Orthodox churches in Oromia recently and sadly ongoing for years are shocking, and officials should be doing more to stop it. It is specific targeting of these Orthodox communities.
But itโs not clear to me that โIslamistsโ are doing this, but rather extremist Oromo nationalists. Maybe some might be Islamists as well, but this seems timed more for national destabilization because of elections and to inflame tensions.
Christians are being killed in Ethiopia. This is not a distant tragedy. We have walked alongside believers in Nigeria who know this grief intimately. Communities wiped out, churches burned, families shattered. The persecution is real. The need for the world to wake up is urgent.
Christians have been killed by Oromo Islamist extremists in Ethiopia. While Ethiopia is a majority-Christian country with an ancient Orthodox history, regions within the country like Oromia and Somali have experienced targeted killings driven by militant Islamic extremism.
The ongoing genocidal violence against Orthodox Christian communities in Arsi should alarm everyone regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation.
Over the past several years, and with renewed intensity in recent months, reports have emerged of Orthodox Christians being killed, churches burned, clergy targeted, families displaced, and entire communities living under fear and insecurity in Oromia, particularly in Arsi.
The video shows a man removing Christian crosses from the necks of women and children. For Christians, the cross is not merely an ornament; it is a sacred symbol of faith, identity, and spiritual devotion. No person, especially a child, should be subjected to intimidation, coercion, or humiliation because of their religious beliefs.
Taken together, reports of violence, the destruction of churches, the displacement of Christian families, and incidents such as those depicted in this video raise serious concerns about the state of religious freedom and the safety of Christian communities in parts of Ethiopia.
The Christians in Arsi deserve protection. The victims deserve justice. The displaced deserve support. And Ethiopia deserves leaders who will defend the rights and dignity of all citizens regardless of religion or ethnicity.
Sources documenting concerns regarding attacks on Christians and religious violence in Arsi and Oromia:
โข World Council of Churches:
https://t.co/z7nFyPEEOZ
โข World Council of Churches report:
https://t.co/vCbkcPNyzB
โข Open Doors:
https://t.co/jNaq3vXCTj
โข European Centre for Law and Justice:
https://t.co/l69RvFhbJW
The protection of religious freedom is not a Christian issue or a Muslim issue. It is a human rights issue.
#Arsi #Ethiopia #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights #OrthodoxChristian #ReligiousPersecution @RealCandaceO@Reuters@SenateGOP@tedcruz
#Ethiopia: Why has Ethiopiaโs Oromia Region become a slaughterhouse for Christians since Abiy Ahmed came to power? Why did Abiy wage war against Tigray (2020โ2022) and Amhara (2023โpresent), regions where the majority of the population is Christian?
The video shows the answer.
The world has failed innocent victims. Thousands of #OrthodoxChristians have been killed in Arsi, Oromia ๐ช๐น while impunity has emboldened the perpetrators. The latest massacred carried out in broad daylight on June 1, 2026 is another painful reminder #Howmuchlonger@AP@Pontifex