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Ethiopia: Court Imprisons more than 500 Muslims for Mass Church Burnings
by Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News International Correspondent
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA (Worthy News)-- An Ethiopian court sentenced 579 Muslims from three to 18 months in prison for a week of violence against Christians that left one dead and 69 churches destroyed by fire.
Additionally, 107 Muslims were charged with terrorism-related crimes for their roles in the attacks.
According to Compass Direct, more than 4,000 Christians in and around Asendabo were displaced as a result of church attacks after Muslims falsely accused a Christian of desecrating the Qu'ran; the destruction that began at Asendabo spread to Chiltie, Gilgel Gibe, Gibe, Nada, Dimtu, Uragay, Busa and Koticha as Muslim mobs overwhelmed local police and rampaged unchecked.
With a Christain majority, Ethiopia is the second most populous country in the African continent; according to the 2007 census, Ethiopia is 63 percent Christian and and 34 percent Muslim, but in regions where Muslims make up the majority, Christians face persecution.