Open letter to the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dr. Abiye Ahmed
Dear Prime Minister,
Every minority has precious history,
Minority right is human right,
And, minorities are true test for democracy.
Be on the side of truth always,
As justice comes
From doing the right things.
Truly, protecting minorities is
Your duty and responsibility
But, signing them off is inhumanity.
I begin my letter by just asking you, “Do not be the last Ethiopian leader to sign off my political extinction.’ My name is Ms. Amana (literally means Guardianship or (አደራ) Aadera in Amharic), and am your second daughter’s age. I might not be as lucky as she is, because I belong naturally to minority of minorities group in Ethiopia. Why am I from minority of minorities? I will explain soon. But, your urgent political wisdom and humanity may save my extinction!
I am 5th generation Harari, facing generational internal and external persecutions. Starting from my great-great grandfather to myself; we were internally displaced, became refugees and immigrated to foreign lands. Of course, within a series of political turmoil in Ethiopia. Most of the times as minority, directly attacked and pushed out of our homeland (Harar) and our home country (Ethiopia).
What made us minority of minorities?
As you already know from historical facts, Harar was once a mighty country with its own governance structures, financial systems, coinage, education and civilization, before Addis Ababa and Nairobi came to light. In a nutshell, Harar was the center of knowledge, trade, development and peace. Unfortunately, all these were taken away because of series of persecutions for years. Here are some highlights for you.
- My great-great grandfather: Persecution number 1. The beginning of 19th century was the starting point of our extinction. My great-great grandfather was educator and entrepreneur. His land and properties were confiscated, and was persecuted by the then Emperor Menilik, who brag in his letter written to the British consulate in Aden, February 1887.
From Menilik, King of Shoa and of all the Galla, good and bad (What derogatory term to use then!)
To the English Consul at Aden,
How are you ―By the Grace of God, I am well. Amir Abdillahi would suffer no Christian in his country. ―He was another ―Gragne but by the help of God I fought him, destroyed him and he escaped alone on horseback. ―I hoisted my flag in his capital and my troops occupied his city, Gragne died. But, Abdillahi could not be his successor. This is not a Mussalman country as every one knows. ….. Signed Menelik
Also, from Addis Ababa University Archives, another letter to his wife, clearly messaging her how he slaughtered so many Muslims and Hararis. It was a bloodbath, and one of its kind atrocity in Ethiopian history.
Thereafter, my great-great grandfather and Hararis alike punished, displaced and assorted systematic ethnic cleansing began!
- My Great grandfather: Persecution number 2. In 1940s and 1950s, during Haile Selassie’s regime, my great grandfather was imprisoned in notorious prisons of Debre Markos and Jimma because of his involvement in a peaceful movement, and defending the rights of Hararis and Harar. After languishing for so many years in prisons, he was released with a warning NOT to go back to Harar. Internally displacement, and he remained in Jimma and the surrounding towns until his last days.
- My Grandfather: Persecution number 3. Following my great grandfather, the internal displacement continued with my grandfather, who ended up roaming for livelihood throughout Ethiopia except Harar. The Hali Selassie regime systematically persecuted all Hararis, and deprived everything Harari, which really made Harar on the verge of collapse. He was cut off from Harar, and his family was marginalized and assimilated. Diminishing our cultural values, our Islamic religion, the Harari language and the heritage, in general. It meant getting closer to the next level of extinction.
- My Dad: Persecution number 4. After all these internal displacements and persecutions by imperial regimes, here came the late 1970s and early 1980s. The era of military rule and dictatorship, where land and properties were confiscated and assorted human atrocities took place (Also, your brother’s story relates to this!). Red terror touched almost all households in Ethiopia. These forced my dad to exodus! Became a refugee in neighboring countries, and later immigrated to Western world. Generational executions, from internal displacements to immigration … terrorized and forcefully pushed to the verge of extinction in our own homeland, Harar!
- My Generation: Persecution number 5. Ethiopia is incomplete without minorities, and being Ethiopian is meaningless without diversity. Though I try my best to keep my heritage as both Harari and Ethiopian wherever I am, there is a huge threat lingering over Harar. I will be nobody without Harar. If Harar exists, then my heritage and myself do continue to exist and become a complete Ethiopian. I am in touch with Ethiopia; so often visit and follow its discourses. Ethiopia is a land of diversity and minorities, and debasing such beauty is inhumanity. Imagine, while I am struggling not to be swallowed by the veneer of Western world, my Harar is being wiped out of the political map by fellow so-called public servants and extreme Ethiopianists, and so are several minorities across the country. Ethiopia without its peoples would not be a country! Atrocious public servants such as Birtukan Mideksa are existential threat to my generation.
All in all, these series of visible and invisible atrocities through demographic manipulations through displacement of indigenous Hararis, settlement of non-Hararis, and unlawfully abusing Harari rights as shown in the recent National Election Board attempting to politically strangle Hararis amount to silent genocide!
Harar has tried to recuperate from such persecutions and brutalities; and, more than ever, Hararis and Harar are being political threatened and persecuted repeatedly. Harar’s continuation as a tiny entity needs your protection, as King Najashi protected handful Muslims back then. Responsible and humane leadership always protects the powerless from abusive internal authorities and political criminals.
The Chairwoman of the National Election Board of Ethiopia is illegally and inhumanely determined to wipe out political Harar. I plead with you because you know what it means to be persecuted, marginalized and assimilated since you belong to highly persecuted and hated segment of Ethiopia’s population. The Chairwoman is a vanguard of silent genocide! She has become an institution by herself, and acting above the institution she is heading. Even worrisome, she is acting above the laws of the land, the constitution and legal institutions as she is at loggerheads with all.
Look at the decisions made against her in favor of Harar’s rights and election matters. From Federation House, Supreme Court of Ethiopia, Court of Appeals, Courts of Validation to Sebaar Court decision made today, 27 May 2021. Who is incompetent, the Judges or her? In fact, all her documented actions amount to hatred, discrimination and inhumane. Her soul is inhumanity! She is existential threat to minorities in Ethiopia. She is defying national and international laws such as ‘Minority right is human right.” Her hate, arrogance, ignorance and unforgiveness are imploding in all directions!
This is where your actions is urgently need to stop her from illegally erasing and undermining the existence of minorities. Abusing Harar’s rights are indicative of intended crime against minorities in the country.
As witnessed by all, Harar is a visible peace. Harar is threat to nobody or entity. Hararis walk with moderate manners. They are people with balance and fairness in their intentions and actions. They gave happiness to many, though they were treated miserably. They made people laugh, though they were made to cry. However, Harar will continue to be invaluable social, economic and political hub, as well as, civilization asset.
As I conclude and seeking your urgent attention to prevent authorities from such humanity and rights abuses. Also, just want to bring to your attention some experiences from other countries around the world how minorities are delicately handled and treated with affirmative actions, and even some are accorded to the minorities veto power.
Beyond Ethiopia, there are many countries around the globe that supported and established minority self-governing territories or parliamentary seats or administrative entities within their borders. To name few, Norway for Sami social groups (population 80,000), Sweden for Sami social groups (population 20,000), Italy for Vatican State (population 2500), Slovenia for minority Italian origin (population 4000), Poland for German minority (population 4300) and New Zealand for Maori (population 600000) and Pakistan for non-Muslim social groups (<2%). Colombia, South Africa, Fiji, Singapore, Canada, Spain, Nigeria and many others have taken affirmative actions and uphold minority rights in support of the minorities running their own affairs within their borders.
Using this opportunity, I would like to commend and appreciate all those Judges in all those courts for standing against social injustice. They have protected the minorities by doing the right thing; actually fulfilling God’s message, ‘protect minorities and the powerless.’ Judges in various courts stood up for and protected minority groups. Mahatma Gandi made distinction between higher courts in the land and the courts of mind-sets. He once said, “There is a higher court than courts of justice, and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts.” With their conscience, all the judges have ruled against her, and stood up for minorities today. Justice and truth always prevail!
Expecting your ethical and civic-mind, Dear Prime Minister, do not sign off my political extinction. Let me grow with your daughters, please.
Thank you in advance.
signed
Ms. Amana Ahmed Al-Abadir
Cc:
Prime Minister’s daughters (C/O Eden Abiye)
Federation House Ethiopia,
Supreme Court of Ethiopia, Court of Appeals, Courts of Validation and Sebaar Court
Ethiopian Human Right Commission,
The Ministry of Peace (kindly save the City of Peace!),
President of Harari Regional State
UN Commission on Human Rights (its Sub Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities),
The International Commission of Jurists,
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
Various Diplomatic missions and Embassies
Major media outlets (Al-Jazeera, BBC, France 24, CNN, etc.)