Officials charge Ethiopian Evangelist with Terrorism, Treason
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
ADDIS ABADA (Worthy News)– Ethiopian officials have arbitrarily detained and arrested a Christian evangelist for terrorism and treason, according to International Christian Concern.
Alemayehu Legese, an Ethiopian evangelist, was first arrested in March by police in Dodola after having admitted to owning literature that “discussed the history of Islam from a Christian perspective.”
A student at Mekane Yesus Bible School, Legese left the literature at a copy shop where a Muslim employee saw it and informed authorities about the content of the material to be copied.
However, after Legese’s lawyer objected to the terrorism and treason charges, the court ordered the prosecution to modify them, but until new charges are submitted against Legese, he will continue to wait in jail, possibly for years to come.
“We are concerned about the growing persecution of believers in the Muslim-dominated areas of Ethiopia,” said William Stark, ICC Regional Manager for Africa. “The fact that the public prosecutor charged Legese with terrorism and treason is an alarming development, as it indicates the manner in which Islamic radicals have infiltrated the justice system in the country. We ask all concerned to contact the Ethiopian Embassy, either by phone at (202) 364-1200 or email at ethiopia@ethiopianembassy.org, to demand immediate freedom for Legese.”