Secretary of the Tigray Islamic Supreme Council, Haji Mohammed Kahsay, announced this week that the “fascist invading forces have committed genocide in order to destroy the people of Tigray”. The sanctioning by Ethiopian Islamic authorities to allow followers to participate in civilian atrocity and the killing of the other Muslims has caused the termination of the agreement between the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Prime Council and the Tigray Islamic Supreme Council for joint cooperation. The Tigray Islamic followers see these actions by other Muslims of Ethiopia as violations of the central tenets of their faith resulting in blasphemy.
Prior to the onset of the Ethiopian Tigray conflict Muslims from Tigray and other parts of Ethiopia had often worked collaboratively such as when they jointly met with the American Ambassador to Ethiopia at a Ramadan celebration in 2018.
Although Muslims make up a small percentage of the population in Tigray they often hold a prominent place as intellectuals, business owners, educators, and leaders. Historically a Christian Tigray King Negash gave sanctuary to refugees fleeing persecution from what is now Saudi Arabia when the followers of Mohammed needed a safe refuge. It was the Muslim leaders in Mekelle who called upon citizens of all faiths to nonviolently protest the attempted ransacking of Ayder Hospital during the Ethiopian and Eritrean invasion of November 2020.
The Tigray Muslims have declared that genocide in Tigray. Muslims are instructed to be strictly adherent in warfare to follow the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed recorded in the Quran. Certain actions are strictly forbidden including the killing of Muslims, the killing of innocents, especially women and children who are accorded special protection, and the unnecessary destruction of property.
