and dry, the wind is up on the northern plain of india, which is probably a good thing because of course she does is the place where a quality is so poor. so when you get forecast, good winds by day, the tense churn up the air and improve the quality, at least for a while. the snow on its way in frost canis down, and it will keep going and might just reach the fondles of pakistan. ah 1956 to nicea gained independence from france. but the brutal power struggled broke out between the b to this is monica. and the countries nationalist prime minister al jazeera world, tells the story the downfall of the dentist. you folded the paper to the decision to shield the last monarch of tunisia, power and politics. on a jessina,

ethiopia, as influential orthodox church is facing a crisis that sparked weeks of unrest. it began after rebel bishops formed their own assembly in romeo regent. the government has restricted social media and band protests, but is that enough? this is inside story. ah. hello and welcome to the program. i'm hammer, jim jerome is your p as orthodox till i head or church is one of the largest and oldest in africa. but a split within its ranks last month lead to weeks of unrest, divisions, and restrictions for social media users. and the fallout could still have ramifications for the church itself and the country. we have a lot to discuss with our guests, but 1st this report from katya lopez. what do you ah,

the scenes of a united ethiopian orthodox church after weeks of tension and unrest, visuals like this one in odessa baba or a show of strength for one of the oldest christian bodies in the world. the crisis began when a group of rebel bishops created their own assembly and or am i a region saying they faced discrimination under the church's current system. they say their culture and language has been consistently ignored by the religious hierarchy. accusations, the church leaders have denied a set of romo archbishops and bishops who broke away from the orthodox church. and then the aroma regional government was actually, i'm helping those brake way, bishops, essentially, i take over the dd orthodox church and, and put their people in in place, violent protest followed between supporters on both sides and security forces. the church says at least 30 people have been killed in

a week and access the social media has been widely restricted on prime minister abbey arc med has asked his ministers to stay out of the dispute. the government issued a ban on church. let demonstrations met to oppose the break away movement. but religious leaders describe that move as a decoration to destroy the church. this is a really difficult situation for the prime minister. his political base of being in power has primarily then between the aroma, which is the ethnic group. he comes from an, an ethiopian a largest ethnic group, and the m herrera. ah, ah, we, which has dominated the ethiopian orthodox church. ha, with more than 36000000 follower as the, the opiate orthodox church has been around for centuries, with a vast religious cultural and political influence. for now, tensions have d escalated, but for their divisions may fuel more conflicts that threat to extend well beyond

the church. katia lopez, leon al jazeera. as katya mentioned, the ethiopian orthodox church has been around for a long time. christianity was introduced to ethiopia in the 4th century that shortly before it arrived in england, the church has between 36 and 49000000 followers and represent about 43 percent of ethiopia as population. but many young christians have become protestants, a denomination they feel as more accommodating of ethiopia as diverse culture. ah. all right, let's go and bring in our guests in dallas, texas father l. m a year who desta a priest at the holy trinity ethiopian orthodox church to a head of church in copenhagen, i reg, gitane theologians specializing in ethiopia as extensive religious groups. and in charlotte, north carolina. so it draws tier fe chairman of the i'm horace association of america, a warm welcome to you all and thanks so much for joining us today on inside. sorry,

father ella, my yahoo! let me start with you to day these rebel bishops created their own assembly in romeo region. why did that cause such a crisis? and what was the initial response from the church? when was a thank you for having me. first, why they have done is busy. can the trans grace, the very basic and most important aspect of the church cannon and one of its sacraments, which is a sacramento priesthood. ah, by appointing bishops, without having the appropriate authority, what they have done is precedent or to disintegrate. they changed according to the origin and still the church. this point was basically to denounce it in the 1st place. and then he's wondering,

is that what he quoted all the bishops within the country and from abroad to come to the country for an emergency meeting. so that's, look for this meeting took for this for this was also important because you was really good individuals to consider the role that they have done that that could lead to do he, hidden among the faithful, based on that ethnic rhetoric that is really much made up and so they have had that only one person among the ones that they need to have appointed and apologized for their own being, but notice of a met. so that's what the church nissan response. really for additional stations before it's excommunicated. this individual is a rigor,

are there other reasons that are underlying all of this that have caused this split in the orthodox church? and if so, what are they actually wanting to the keys? and i'm curious that even though it's not, but there is a, from the church, the former 3 because tried to bring their own because and consecrate back with the griffin and the generation for the has been a politic motivation in our until the all my projects initial guess it was a function of how big by the current prime minister of a young issue. so this movement has been inspected in 2004. we tried to establish on, if you do not have an installation administrative passcode in order to be out of there in the order,

i did not know it was to do my unit and to break up the date, you would have just cuz the mean all the 2nd, to advise me on the project, which is, where am i doing poorly? so for me, the me motivation for this policy got to my group for example, the teaching of my language is not true because the church and if it's a legal issue, for example, come on, we've got all of these people must have it by their own language so there is a preaching and in figuring out you know, matic, in other words, even if, if you go to the south. so the language issue is another in order to mobilize, keep it behind or um, i think the company and bring it to do that with

that. and so, i mean, i mean it's a rigor, there was just talking about the language issue, which is something that's coming up a lot in this dispute. there are clerics that are accusing the main church of ethnic discrimination. is this language issue at the heart of that? the language issue is really a whole black from the, the real intent of individuals. but not just these individual individuals have the support of prime minister, be a 100 and also the president or the president of the, the ultimate goal, really of the individuals. and many of those in the state apparatus is to establish an romeo republic. in order for them to do that, they must remove all semblance of from the region including european, wider church as were just previously stated by

the other. the ethiopian of orthodox, why the church provide teaching in multiple languages in a hurry or leading life dumber, including english. i myself taught sunday school a youthful and the local and that's why the church, the curriculum was in english and i taught those lessons in english. so the individuals are not acting on their own, they are acting well the best course of comment to be a 100 independent or should after the individuals who have been excommunicated since claiming to have or day bishops and other p. i'm january 22nd. what followed really was the killing of over 35 followers of the ethiopian orthodox church. the arrest

a dozen of if you open orthodox followers, be a rich and will arrest the and the also exactly bishops from the diocese, the earlier regions and also with the support of the security forces. d, individuals took over churches that we looked at the you open docs church. so this is they take over the open orthodox, the why do church property? these individuals are not acting on their own. this is not, this is an attack to get you opened up search by the state apparatus. and one thing i would like out also, and i say that they are tied to the template of the region. the, the almost special forces with joint operation with the liberation army have killed tens of thousands of m r and other non urls. busy and ethnically mintz over 1000000 miles from the earlier regions. these america have been ethnically says are not

just christy, they are predominantly muslim r as well. so this is really the ultimate goal, and it is really critically important that the international community pay attention to this crisis. they condemn the actions of prime minister abby and presidential melissa. there are many tools of the international community can use to really hold the individuals responsible and i hope the international community can a regular one thing you mentioned before. and one thing the tailored roses mentioning was the word politics and political motivations. you know, prime minister had entered into this dispute when he called for rivals to engage in dialogue and reportedly said that both sides had their own truths in this dispute. that is something that has sparked outrage. i want to ask you, why is that? primarily because miss robin is from the aroma community, is the belief that he is supporting these rebel bishops. actually,

that speech was the main reason for the reasons to kill initiative because he just to compare to just reach out. and the functions are individual plan is that he just got him. it's protected by the condition where the government, including the prime minister, is supporting this option because that for all, and he's not running the order. but by saying if you're out on the and i think that's cool and he's trying to get there because you from the church point of view, they don't know. you know, there is one of the one feeling and that's really close on the people. if you'll get mobilized on the final, so these are including the on. if you hear the people who are here to in many, most of them are all from you, can you girl that's really what christians. so there isn't

a lot of them and these are kind of who did it by which not, except when you get in there doing what i'm going to be in order to divide, the few not, i think is more committed politic. i mean, an hour later the he conduct sheet and me fix the end. you can cancel this program. that means the program created by the government and know they're paying the to buy them. suddenly it is very simple. the program is very live. the problem in time is 133 to interpreting the church just in the past. and because it hasn't come on, you can reach me, but can come see me pretty handy for me to because i'm living in order for it is

american. you know, the government, the one is putting the end of the they, they prepared to keep it or use that they will be on the problem is there is no problem with not only happening father, the maya, who the church is accused the government of interfering in its affairs where do things stand right now between the church and between the government of prime minister robbie. at times when i was after the prime minister, i made the speak to you just refreshed. the charge father's delegation of the shops . i have met with the prime minister on friday and the prime minister bit early, according to the statements made by the holy scene on the prime minister, acknowledged it all the church was tennis and i agreed to solve the problem.

but since then, masses must detentions advertise, detentions are continuing. and right after the meeting between the prime minister and the delegation of bishops tremendous had this printed out of the region. he said that he's going to continue with full force while he has started the 4th step of the church. so that's where it starts really. and to go back to the prime minister sub speech, it seems that he has forgotten that if you can order that. so i will change is an entity that has the punished additional right, or legal protection against any entity that compromises its principles. and it's put because for existence and one of the things that he had not mentioned, 1st of all, it took at least

a week before he added as his issue. and when he addressed it, not only did he make equivalency between the on this you know, then they're gonna get groups as my colleague already mention they. he also didn't mention our ad chose not to mention the math and the patience and the breaking of the church property. and so before his speech and he speaks the same thing after he has met with the imprisonment that arbitrary dictation actually has continued. and as we speak, even today, a street has been a closed for for night just for a vacant but for pedestrians on show. and i don't remember in

recent times when pedestrians were restricted for passing through a certain regions. and there are some church social where the field will have not been. and now that 20 for worship, monday, sunday morning is there a particular is men what day? and so they are, these are just between 5 am and 10 m b a to change. now in one of the church that's one day. and i think that's in the center of ad is people who started willing to check for it because they were regular. i find it and so they were security guards are starting at a standing at the church and are forcing them back. so divinely tell you to wish it will be conducted without the phone and attendance and what's happening is really shameful. that's where it stands, right?

it, there are reports, the prime minister are b may meet with patriarch or do you think this is going to happen? and if so, will it, will it help to de escalate the situation? in order to get to the escalator situation, while prime minister abbey needs to do immediately is to release all the prisoners that he has arrested. to safeguard the, the bishops that have been picked out from the earlier region and allow them to return to their church diety and not to resume the service, to stop the restriction of movement of individuals and also the internet and other social media. restricted before meeting with the pressure. there are many things that the prime minister, but this is not only what you know, this is not only the responsibility of the prime minister. you know, parliament needs to understand that they have

a responsibility here and they haven't. ringback they really need to come and understand the gravity of the situation and quickly to remove mr. abby and establish a transitional government and prepare the country to hold. that should wash it for all because the previous election that gave a 105 years of additional licensing power was really a far selections. and if they do not do this, we were concerned that the country will continue to detroit. and we cannot have a sheet of over 110000000 people become a failed state. this has implications not only to the horn of africa, but part of africa, the middle east europe, and including the united states. and that's why we're asking the international community to quickly and, and provide for a support to the, not only to the open or production church, but also to all europeans. i cannot understand how serious issue is. and this issue

really is, is a creation of prime minister abbey, consult a reg, as i understand it, there was a similar dispute that grip the church in 2019. how was that solved and who was involved in mediating that? yeah, this movement was started immediately when the prime minister departing and when they created on the question with solid by all the people who and, and they were, should be the individual in order to come back to their character and their problem into non union. they ended up this one of the court kept for one of the if, by incorporating about knowing the interview or to check in and out of now become a member of the church administrative structure. when in this kind of

pricing, we either just for example, in protest in order to divide, the judge hasn't been by that come next monday and the prime minister saw that it was a very, very amazing not that they just brought the people by their own language support them a 3 before they never settled. for example, or preaching just in our only now they made the edits. but before, in the, in the pony, if you don't get mechanic, you know what i mean, for example, i want to not, not in but one of the folks that kind of it in order in order to get, even though that appointed be hooked down. you know, they never did this either, not at all. so they just used to buy it as and in order to make the check to be put

as they were a member of the what they come out on a q. we want in order to protect, create other folks and even other before was able to start using it to me. so we can hear you come along when you're not getting a good the with the character for example, just the language is lacking for me. but for preaching for reading, for science, teaching and hiking, the church that comes to, you know, come numbers, way of the way, what's the under? so this is never been a problem for your end. there are so many books which i cannot leave to only know we can, we can list and fund them to me. so this woman is simply supported by the government, the government in the federal government, in order to the point this is not always for the or there on my project

that you spoke to in so much for me is our way of being not, not played demira and regardless, i'm sorry to interrupt you, we're just starting to run out of time. father, who right now, the reports are that access, social media has been widely restricted. there are fears that there might be a complete internet shut down in the coming days. how concerned are you that this might happen and what the fall out from that might be i'm very much concerned because even though we're watching right now a government and moving with full force with arbitrary dictations. and if there is a blackout, we sit, which is really an a,

this guys are too high, what's happening in the country, i'm afraid that the destruction, well, i feel my life and to the property of the church is going to be seriously apostrophe. and that's why we see really every day happening, by the way, that the killing stuff happened in actually i normally a region was not a killing one for testers. that's what persisting on the street. the shooting was. i mean, i was often on the 5th floor that gathered in the church. so all of those that day for 79 is what i have heard were in the church compound, their opening fire on the fence industry compound not. and if a government is really capable of doing this, i imagine what they would do when there's going to be a mass protest on the streets. and so the big question is really,

that is an attempt to hide what they're doing and, and the killings and the patients and the destruction is going to be catastrophic. this bill county really 1st the government intention to destroy one of the oldest and most historic sanity on earth. i don't think it could be watching talent, father le, let me just follow up, but we only have a couple of minutes left us. if i could ask you just just quickly, if there are more divisions going forward, i mean, we're talking about the fact that you're worried there to be a catastrophe or catastrophic consequences. if there are more divisions going forward. do you believe that could fuel more conflict and could it extend beyond the church a it even before, before we got into, into this, they're already a conflicts in different parts of the country. and then what is happening in the

case now, and which is a crisis that is government made. it is making things worse, a race and language has never been an issue in the church. you know, one of the most important aspects of peace and stability is the preservation of institutions that had the bedrock of the one i'm on it. and that's because you want to or to that still have to change has been and that's what they are destroying. and trying to do to i have this ethnic patients that causing it. so it definitely is going to ask, feel out outside of the orthodox church. and there are many muslim and persistent rather than very much concerned about what's going on in that area against the government. and i would like to mention here also that in this effort

to destroy the change, those that have been detained for the most part of the church service in the region, our servants who were preaching and then conducting church service in one week. but we see from the absence of the security government and from some testimonials, uh, as also have been afflicted with this crisis, is that there has been an indoctrination of hey, i get the check and that's what we see. and it definitely is going to be out of the check and make it a, the horn of africa. all right, we have run out of time. we're going to have to leave the conversation there. thanks so much. all our guest father. lemme who does just a regular guitar and to a, draws your fe and thank you to for watching. you can see the program again any time by visiting our website at 0 dot com at further discussion. go to our facebook page

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