By Negashi
It was already reported that Mekelle University issued a final call for Muslim Students to return back to the campus and start with their studies. At the back of this letter which carried a final ultimatum for students, there has been an intensive discussion underway to find a just way out. This yielded an acceptable deal where students may finally agree to return back to the campus and follow further for final settlement as the issue is no more an isolated case but a national issue.
Under this agreed upon understanding, students may continue offering their prayers in Jama’a as they have been doing so far. With regard to Friday prayer, students may use a plote of land next to the university. Until the crisis students use to perform thier Friday prayers on the football field of the campus. As prayer for Islam is not space bound but time, this deal is welcome by students.
The measure which Mekelle University became first to implement is not an issue of the University as such but an effort to implement a document that was released by the Ministry of Education on the rules and regulations Ethiopian educational institutions must follow.
For such measure that has come down from the top office, the reaction has to be also to that scale – at national level. Congnizant of this fact, students decided to return to their campus and continue for a fair and acceptable regulation.
In the mean time, the PM Meles Zenawi is reported to have commented on the issue at a moment he met academicians from Ethiopian higher institutions on Saturday 01. 12. 2007. Though he presented the case first incorrectly, he felt later the need to let all stock holders (students and the rest of the university community) discuss and enrich the proposed document. According to the information that reached him, students of Mekelle university asked for a plot of land to build Mosque inside the campus and for laud speakers to be installed each and every building, a demand that is impossible to realize. This incorrect presentation of the situation in MU was checked by a staff from Mekelle University who informed the PM that students did not present any new demand but keep the status quo that was accepted by the university so far.
This is a great success for all those who stand for respect for the basic right of Ethiopians to practice their religion and the fundamental principles of freedom and equality of worship. This does not mean however that the issue is solved for good. Both the individual and coordinated effort of students we so far seen need to continue. As the issue has far reaching implication than just what students face inside their campus, the actions of students need to be encouraged and get all the support it needs. Read more >>