Three More Slain as Inter-Religious Council Suppresses Systemic Persecution of the Orthodox

ESG – OCP News Service – 13/11/2025

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia: On Monday, November 10, 2025, as the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia was preparing to brief the media about the Arsi massacres, three Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christians were gunned down in broad daylight while threshing crops in a field near Teleta, in the Tule Beyo locality of Aseko District, Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State. The victims of the targeted attack were Deacon Eyob Ejegu, Mr. Tilahun Boge, and a ten-year-old child, Tsadqane Serawitu.

This occurred as Orthodox youths in the area—suspected of reporting the killings to the media—were being rounded up and taken to unknown locations, while women and children fled to Erecha to escape the ongoing killings and abductions by the assailants.

On the same day, the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia and delegates of the Patriarchate faced backlash for their “investigative” report, which claimed that the killings of Orthodox Christians “were not religiously motivated.” The delegation had spent no more than one hour in the area and failed to speak with victims or local diocesan authorities, who had been consistently reporting the incidents to the Patriarchate. The attempt to suppress the truth of the ongoing massacres came as a painful shock to victims and local diocesan leaders. They stated that when they tried to present the Council and Patriarchate representatives with a list of 120 martyred Orthodox Christians—slaughtered between Wednesday, September 13, 2023, and Tuesday, October 28, 2025, for their faith and ethnicity—they were dismissed and added that the report was a lie which was like rubbing salt on a wound, further revealing the intent of the “investigators.”

The persecuted believers have called for the removal of His Eminence Abune Yared, the Archbishop of the Diocese, who has remained silent for weeks. They stated that they need a shepherd who will console their grief. The martyrs were laid to rest at Teleta Saint Gabriel Church on the afternoon of the attacks.

The repeated killings of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians—which the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (whose secretary leading the “investigation” is from the same region as the Prime Minister) and delegates of the Patriarchate (some of whom are vocal supporters of the current government or have led or supported schismatic movements within the Church) appeared to dismiss—had previously been condemned by the Acting Synod.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), on the other hand, reported on November 11, 2025, that both Orthodox Christians and Muslims were killed in the recent attacks. Other sources indicated that two Muslims were slain while attempting to shelter Christians who were being persecuted. Arsi is a Muslim-majority zone in Oromia.

Sources:
– Mahibere Kidusan Broadcast Service
– TIKVAH-ETHIOPIA
– Wazema Media / Radio
– Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO)