At least 60 Orthodox Christians were killed in separate attacks on October 20 and 24 in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, church officials reported.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church’s holy synod on Monday described the killings as “extremely tragic cruelty and suffering inflicted on our citizens”. More than 20 people were seriously injured, and 20 homes burned down in the attacks, it added.
The church said 14 people were killed on October 20 in Gora Silingo, Angada Kebele in Merti district, while another 46 were killed on October 24 in the villages of Tereta, Chole and Birbo in Shirka district. Both districts are located in the Arsi Zone in central Ethiopia’s Oromia region.
The holy synod condemned the killings, saying the attacks violated constitutional protections for life and religious freedom, and threatened Ethiopia’s tradition of peaceful coexistence among different faiths.
It called on government institutions to publicly condemn the attacks, strengthen civilian protection and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
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