Messages from Religious Leaders of Ethiopia and Tigray

To: Global Evangelical Churches Fellowship USA
Ref: An appeal to condemn the genocide and massacre of civilians & a request for humanitarian aid and Prayer for the people of Tigray.

Greetings in the name of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ:

The Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Tigray is an umbrella Christian institution for all evangelical Churches that operate throughout the Tigray region. Tigray is located in the northern part of Ethiopia, with a population of over 6.5 million. Many natural and manmade adversities are taking place in Tigray as well as in other parts of Ethiopia. The current conflict in Tigray is negatively impacting its citizens' safety, health, and economic well-being. The persistent and recurring drought and the continuing war in the region have created severe challenges for the region's entire population.

The current war broke out on November 4, 2020, and Tigray has been ravaged by a war of revenge, destruction, and death. The damage to the people of Tigray is immeasurable, and the enormity of the need of millions of people is great and pressing. One of the unforeseen and unexpected experiences of the current conflict has been the fact that the leadership of the Ethiopian Evangelical church has supported this evil war against the population of Tigray. The Ethiopian Evangelical church has lent its financial and unwavering spiritual support to the Ethiopian government through false prophecy of guidance and praying for the success of the military mission against the people of Tigray. The support of the this devastating war by the Ethiopian Evangelical Church over the people of Tigray is irresponsible and gravely hinders the mission work of the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Tigray regarding evangelical work and winning hearts for Christ among the population. As we write this letter, the forces of destruction continue to commit many atrocities that have been acknowledged by the international community, such as the US government, the United Nations, European Union, UK, Germany, Finland, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, UNHCR, USAID, MSF, UNICEF, & many humanitarian and aid agencies. The crimes perpetrated against the peoples of Tigray include:

• Murder

• Torture

• Rape

• Use of food as a weapon

• Ethnic cleansing

• Etc.

According to recent reports, thousands of civilians have been killed by federal forces, Amhara militias, and Eritrean troops. As a result of the conflict, over 2.3 million people have been internally displaced; 5.1 million people are in immediate need of food and medical aid, and over 65,000 people have been forced to take shelter in Sudan.

As the result of this war crimes and crisis in the region, most hospitals, health centers, clinics, pharmacies, factories, schools, offices, universities, airports, thousands of residential and commercial buildings, religious and cultural heritage sites, telephone & internet black-out, and many public and private infrastructures have been deliberately destroyed and looted. Since November 4, 2020, about 1 million students are out of school, and more than 500,000 people have lost their homes. Elderly Virgin Nuns, priests' wives, young girls have been savagely raped, and their reproductive organs mutilated. Many residents were displaced, and still, they are sheltered in the caves. The population has been deprived of food, water, healthcare services, and restrictions on free movement have left physical and psychological scars on the population.

The Tigray people are in dire need of food, medicine, shelter, and peace. The Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Tigray, like many religious and civil society organizations, has been severely impacted by the ongoing war of destruction. Currently, in many places, there are no church services, no tithes, and no offerings. Thousands of members have lost their means of income, and many are displaced from their hometowns. As a result, more than 260 full-time ministers and their families (pastors, evangelists, & supporting staff) and more than 6,000 church members and their families are food-aid dependents. The ongoing war has destroyed the livelihoods of millions of people in Tigray.

To rescue Tigray and reverse the tragedy that has fallen on the population, the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Tigray is trying to be a voice for the voiceless. Therefore, on behalf of all the marginalized and victims of this war crime & crisis, we would like to request your good office to commit to be a voice for the voiceless and ensure justice in the region by appealing and condemning all the evil acts to the global society.

Thank you for all your prayers and stand with richness,
Mihreteab Birhane (Eva.), General Secretary

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Abune Mathias Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (Video Translation)

In the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.

To all Ethiopians--those who are in the country and out of the country: Nowadays, all over Ethiopia in general and in Tigray in particular, many barbarisms have been conducted. Based on this issue, I’ve tried several times to declare it and have wanted to stop the event. Unfortunately, all my messages have been banned and prevented. As a result, all my efforts came to nothing. This is because I am not allowed to speak. I spoke out and they held it back. I spoke out again and they held it back. Until now I have not had the opportunity to display my message through the media.

Dear all beloved, what you have to know is the problem I have faced. I know that what is happening in Ethiopia in general, and in Tigray in general are heathens’ deeds. I have said a lot of things but no one allows the message to be displayed--rather it is being stifled and censored. It is clear that the problem is everywhere like in Oromia, Benshangule, Shewarobit and so on. What is happening in Tigray is particularly the most difficult and the gravest so far. What is happening in Tigray is of the highest brutality and cruelty. By the way, not only I, but the whole world knows this truth. When the world people knew everything, I had an interview again in April, I mean in April 2021, thinking that it would be released to the media; they still prevented it.

Now, what is happening is the carnage of people—particularly the killing of innocents. The youth are being searched out in towns and in villages. Then they have been killed and thrown off the cliffs. They are not even allowed to be buried, as for example in “Mahibere Degue”. The carnage has taken place for the last five months, and now we are approaching the sixth month and even still there is death. God has a response for these atrocities. God will judge everything actually. However, people are dying, dying awfully, badly. Women are being raped, and they are in pain. Those men who died are luckier than these women who are suffering. There is trauma in the mind of the ladies that is difficult to remove. There is always a black stain in their minds. Truly speaking, I do not know how to stop this all carnage. So world leaders/governments know all of this. What I am saying is what the world knows. For the last six months I have not had any chance for the media to convey my message.  I have been prevented from speaking for the last six months. This is because of fear and influence. I have said nothing until now. I was afraid to aggravate the case.

Besides the war, they are walking home to home and they are killing innocent citizens. Not only killing, but also looting their belongings. They killed people, looted property and violated their rights. It is violation of life, property and rights. They violated everything. They want to destroy the people of Tigray. Tigray’s resources have already been looted. They are doing this without any shame. Still now they are taking these actions. The other miserable issue is that farmers are prohibited from ploughing their land. Farmers have to run their farms for survival, but they are prevented to do so. They are burning the farming materials. They say to the farmers, ”Why do you want to plough the land? You will be destroyed and you are not allowed to live on this earth. It has been decided for you not to live.”
The amount of property looted is uncountable. They shoot or bomb the churches and monasteries. For example we can see the cases in Axum and Debredamo. In Debredamo the houses of the monks were destroyed; one father was also killed. In Axum, those who were protecting their property were massacred unanimously. People were dropped over the ground like leaves. This is clearly being spoken about all over the world. The world is talking about Tigray, but we are prevented from speaking. It is amazing! The world governments must do something. It is urgent to decide to stop this evil action: the killing and massacre of innocents. They must stop, and the world should struggle to stop them.
Churches are being destroyed. The Monks of Waldiba monastery have been displaced from the monastery where they have lived their entire lives. Elderly monks and the sick are left on the wayside. Only some strong ones have arrived at some places of refuge. These type of atrocities have never been seen so far, which is very, very offensive. Particularly the rape of women is very disgraceful, shabby, and bad. They have no fear of God or any respect for human dignity.

I am so sorry about what type of creations they are! Until now they have locked my mouth shut. I have a lot of pain because of this issue. If I were abroad, I would have the opportunity to declare my message. But being in this country, they have prevented all my declarations. I am living in pain as all my efforts have been prevented. All world governments have to be involved in this issue.

Our churches, not only Axum and Debredamo, but also others like Assimba, the home of the heremetic abba Zewengel. That new church is damaged. In Mariam Dengelat, while Christians were praying in the church yards, they were massacred. They are working day and night to destroy Tigray. They have no rest when it comes to destroying Tigrians. In all parts of Tigray there are killings. They mean to wipe Tigrians from the surface of the earth. The whole world must know this, and they have to stop it. I call on the World Council of Churches and to the people of the world for urgent support. The atrocity that is being done in Tigray has not happened anywhere in the world. It is so miserable to speak about these actions. If my message has an opportunity to be displayed in the media, I hope many people can understand the situation, and the challenge I am personally faced with. Now, I hope and believe that my voice will be heard and people will help. And I hope everyone will think over this issue.
May God have Mercy! May God bless His people! And my other message to the people of Tigray who live in the country and out of the country is this: May God give you strength; be courageous; do not be demoralized; this bad season will pass away. Pray to God--He is the perfect judge. May God bring about a peaceful time. May God grant rest to those who lost their lives. May God give recovery to the injured. I am  not clear why they want to declare genocide on the people of Tigray. I do not know why they want to wipe the people of Tigray from the surface of the earth. It is not the fault of the Tigray people. The whole world should know this. Actually they know it. This is just to remind them!

May God bless you. Amen.