Ethiopian Muslim Militias Attack And Burn Down Christian Homes

Ethiopia is the second oldest Christian land in the world, Muslims make up a little less than 35% of the population, although in certain provinces they predominate, and yet Christians are persecuted in those areas where Muslims are the majority. Why is that? What makes Muslims so unwilling to live in peace with non-Muslims? A religion that claims to be peaceful with followers who resort to violence for all manner of things. 25 of them viciously burned down homes and barns of Christians in Jimma, a western Ethiopian village, and now 80 people have no homes. And they didn't stop there, they have been doing their best to make these poor people's lives even more miserable by not allowing them to rebuild their homes and have had to live under trees for shelter.

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According to Jonathan Racho, regional manager for Africa at International Christian Concern (ICC)

"The attackers were led by a local government militia. They set fire to Christians' barns, killing their animals and destroying their harvest," he reports.

The attackers also celebrated by singing near the burned homes. Since the area is largely populated by Muslims, Racho explains the Christians were harassed because they broke two Muslim rules: "Most of the Christians are converts from Islam, and there have been evangelism activities going on there." That means individuals are not allowed to convert from Islam. But if they do, they are not supposed to try to and convert others.

Aside from burning the Christians' homes, Muslim leaders also "told the Christians that if they inform anyone about this incident, then they are going to burn the Christians alive," Racho adds.

So to keep them from exposing the incident, the attackers trapped the Christians in their village for 16 days. They were freed only after one Christian escaped and informed district officials.

I thought there was no compulsion in Islam, and if so, why do they have such a problem with people converting to Christianity or any other religion? People should be free to practice whatever religion they feel compelled to, or no religion at all. If we truly believe there is only one God, for those of us who are monotheists, then however we worship Him should be of no consequence, as long as we do.