Tigray Islamic Supreme Council says Ethiopian Muslims violated rules of war in Tigray

The Islamic Supreme Council of Tigray sees the sanctioning of killing and atrocity by other Muslims on Tigray as a violation of faith. Source: Dimsti Weyane

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.

Tigray Islamic Supreme Council and Ethiopian Muslim Development Agency celebrate Ramadan with USA Ambassador in 2018 Source: US Embassy twitter

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.

Author: Professor Tony Magana

Professor Tony Magana is Head of the Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences at Mekelle University in Mekelle, Ethiopia. He directs a neurosurgery residency and training program as well as neuroscience research.

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