Addis Ababa, Dhul Quidah 20/Feb 3, 2002 (IINA) – Sheikh Abdul Rahman Hussein, president of the Supreme Council of Ethiopian Muslims, has disclosed that there are four main religions in the country, with Muslims making up 52 percent. The others are Orthodox (about 25 percent), Catholics and Protestants (23 percent). He told IINA that among the pressing problems facing the Muslims of Ethiopia are ignorance and poverty, adding that for a long time Ethiopia’s Muslims had not been in contact with the rest of the Muslim world.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman said things have now began to change, in that the Muslims of Ethiopia are now in touch with their brethren outside the country, and such countries, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have started to provide them with financial help, adding that Egypt has been helping them mostly by sending them Daawa workers, to enlighten the Ethiopian Muslims on matters relating to their faith.

The chief of the Supreme Council of Ethiopian Muslims revealed that the number of Ethiopians who have abandoned Islam for other religions is estimated at around 100,000, and that was because they had succumbed to the allure of a better life provided by the social services, such as education and health services, that are provided by their Christian missionaries.

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ETHIOPIA: MUSLIMS ENJOY FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, DR. JILLANI

Addis Ababa, Shawwal 29//Jan 13,2002 (IINA) – Dr. Jillani bin Khidhr, lecturer at the Ansar Daawa and Education Center here, has said that the present government has given Ethiopia’s Muslims some of their religious rights, such as the freedom to worship, which they lacked during the previous regimes, particularly that of Emperor Haile Selassie. He said that Muslims make up 32 million of the country’s 60 million population, but their problems are as many as they are a variety, such as economic, social, and spiritual problems, including superstitious beliefs. Dr. Jillani said that Ethiopia’s Muslims need a lot of help, particularly material help, from their Muslim brethren elsewhere, in order to offset some of those problems, and also in order to achieve development of the community. OB/OB/IINA

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ETHIOPIA: MORE THAN 20 MOSQUES RESTORED  

Addis Ababa, Rabi Awwal 29/Jun10,2002 (IINA) - Libya-based World Islamic Propagation Organization (WIPO) has completed the repair and restoration of more than 20 mosques, in various parts of Ethiopia, under the supervision of Ethiopia’s Supreme Council of Muslims, whose president, Haj Abdul Rahman Hussein Mussa, lauded the efforts and contribution of WIPO to the repair and maintenance of Houses of Worship in his country.

He said that WIPO is not only concerned with spiritual affairs, but has also contributed a lot toward the education and training of Ethiopian Muslims, and has also helped in providing medical care for the sick among them. He said WIPO has also been taking care of orphans, widows, and the disabled, and in sinking wells to provide health drinking water to the people in the country.

Haj Abdul Rahman concluded by saying that he is hopeful that WIPO would continued to help in eradicating poverty, ignorance, and disease among Ethiopia’s Muslims.

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