06/12/2026
R๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฐ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐๐จ๐ฑ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐๐ง, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ก ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐
According to local sources, Ethiopian authorities have started arresting prominent Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church clergy and religious teachers in what observers believe is a crackdown on voices that publicly condemned the recent massacre of Orthodox Christians in Asko Woreda of East Arsi Zone, Oromia Region.
The arrests follow reports that more than 53 Orthodox Christians were killed, over 280 remain missing, hundreds of homes were destroyed, and the historic 101-year-old Telata Chefa St. Gabriel Church was burned during a large-scale attack allegedly carried out by Oromo Liberation Army (OLA/Shene) militants against Orthodox Christian communities in East Arsi Zone between May 31st to June 2nd.
Among those arrested is Deacon Zelalem Taye, a well-known young gospel preacher recognized for his teaching, counseling work, and extensive service to Orthodox Sunday schools. He was reportedly detained in Addis Ababa and is believed to have been targeted after writing about the killings of Christians in Arsi.
Priest Getnet Aytenew, a prominent Orthodox priest known for his educational content on social media and his commentary on church affairs, was also reportedly arrested. Sources indicate his detention is linked to his writings regarding the massacre of Orthodox Christians in Arsi.
Authorities also detained Priest Dr. Mezgebu Kassa, a respected theologian, researcher, author, and former Chief Executive Officer of EOTC TV. Dr. Mezgebu is known for numerous theological publications, including the book Betrรฉ Haymanot and the internationally published Theanthropic Ethics in Conversation with Autonomy and Heteronomy. He is being held at the Federal Police detention center in Mexico Square, Addis Ababa.
In addition, Yeneta Betre Mariam Abebaw, a prominent Orthodox scholar and educator known for making traditional church teachings widely accessible through digital platforms, was arrested in Gonder City. He is the author of several widely circulated works on Orthodox theology, apologetics, and Geโez language studies.
The arrests have generated concern among church followers and observers, who note that all four individuals are known primarily for religious teaching, theological scholarship, and public advocacy. Reports from multiple sources suggest that the detentions may be connected to their public statements and writings regarding the killings, destruction of churches, and humanitarian crisis affecting Orthodox Christian communities in East Arsi Zone.
The wave of arrests comes amid growing criticism of the governmentโs response to the
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