A university in Tigray

[The_Patriot]

“Worshiping Allah is Illegal” - Mekele University Students’ Dean Office

The students Dean Office of Mekele University published and distributed among the university students a booklet that outlined the “rules and regulations” of the university. Most of the points considered are directed to Muslim students. They are told that “worshiping Allah” - praying and observing the dressing code by Muslim female students - inside the campus is an illegal act that is punishable by total dismissal from the institute without any further warning or discussion. The office made a special emphasis about dressing code for Muslim female students. They were told, with no ambiguity, to choose either their religion or their education.

In spite of this barbaric regulation which without doubt targeted at Muslim students and a clear discrimination against them, Muslims are still observing their salat. It is not clear what action is awaiting for them and when.

Last Friday, 16 October 2007, campus police attempted to disperse Muslim students who gathered to pray their Friday Prayer inside one of the university compounds as they always do until this new regulation. Despite this, students managed to finish their prayer peacefully. Similar action was conducted in various campuses of the university but students had already finished with their Friday prayer by the time police arrived.

According to most of the students, had police or other officials of the campuses opted to take action and stop interrupted them from their prayers, they would immediately leave the campus or some sort of tension would occur. They find that such action needed to be discussed before hand and an alternative should be sought before coming up such discriminatory regulation. Their right to study should not be compromised by their being Muslims. After all, they say, they have the right to study as well as to practice their religion. The rules and regulations of public institutions can not as such put a regulation that reject the people on whose tax and financial contribution it functions.

The students expressed their appreciation for police that they did attempt to exercise force. They further hope that university authorities will soon seat with student representatives and discuss this crucial issue.

Our latest information indicates that representatives of Muslims students will soon meet the university officials.

[QansaGabeyle]

This is focking sad. The minority Christians in Ethiopia abusing the muslims both in Somalia and Ethiopia.