Full Gospel Church worshippers and priests were beaten up by the local police in Ethiopia. This incident happened on Sunday in Metu town Iluababora zone Oromia region. Believers of the Full Gospel Church went out for a religious sermon and were attacked by the local police.
According to the priests and worshipers, more than 20 people were injured in the beating by the security forces. The Mayor of Metu town, Teshale Egerso, said that the street preaching conducted by the members of the church did not get permission from government.
Pastor Birhanu Zeleke, a priest of the Full Gospel Church, said members of the church from Metu town and the surrounding area were attacked by the police when they went out for a worshipping program on the street on Sunday.
The priests and the believers said that they went out to the streets of the Metu town to preach the Gospel. More than a hundred people participated in this worshipping program. They said that they were preaching on the streets without blocking the road and police attacked them without warning or dispersing them.
Full Gospel Church pastors in a statement condemned use of force by government. Ethiopian Government is getting strict these days on religious institutions. The government is planning to introduced a new law to rein in religious institution. The draft law is under consideration.
Amendments are being made to the draft. The draft law will be put to vote at House of Representatives and if its implemented then religious institutions will not be able to hide anything from the government. They will have to declare each and every details about fundraising with Ministry of Peace.
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