OLENKOMI, Ethiopia — Evangelical Christians in an area of Ethiopia unaccustomed to anti-Christian hostility have come under attack from Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) members threatened by their existence, Christian leaders said.
In Olenkomi, about 40 miles west of the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, two church buildings were attacked by an EOC mob Jan. 27 — leaving one evangelist unconscious and other Christians fearful of Orthodox hostility. Area Christians fear the assailants will not face justice due to the EOC’s powerful presence and officials’ desire for calm ahead of May 23 elections.
A Mekane Yesus church building was destroyed in the assault, while a Brethren church structure suffered damages.
The attacks came after an accidental fire from liturgical candles burned an EOC building. EOC members blamed evangelicals, and in the ensuing attacks visiting evangelist Abera Ongeremu was so badly beaten the mob left him for dead. Another three Christians also sustained minor injuries. After the mob stoned the Brethren church, they next targeted the Mekane Yesus church, where Ongeremu was staying in guest quarters.
A member of the mob took a Bible from his guest room and told him to burn it. He refused, and they bound his hands and legs and threw him back into the room, sprinkling diesel on the walls and roof and locking him in before setting it on fire, he said. But some of the assailants argued that Ongeremu should not die by burning but by beating, and two of them dragged him out of the room and continuously beat him.
“After repeated beatings I lost consciousness,” he said. “I didn’t know how and when they left me. I only recall they argued about how to kill me.”
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