ADDIS ABABA -.Oct. 29 . The fourth criminal bench of the Federal High Court heard charges brought against 29 Muslim leaders that are accused of committing acts of terrorism.
The 29 accused -- including nine prominent Muslim leaders -- were jailed following protests in July staged by Muslims against the government.
Among the accused was Habiba Mohammed, is one of 29 Muslim activists and faith leaders accused of conspiracy to commit unspecified acts of terrorism. According to prosecutors, Ms. Habiba also tried to defraud 1.5 million Ethiopian Birr from the Islamic Supreme Council of Ethiopia.Habiba also received more than 50,000 birr from the Saudi Arabian Embassy to fund terrorist activities amongst Ethiopia’s Muslims, it was alleged , The wife of the former minister of civil service, charged with smuggling funds to support religious extremism.
Demonstrations began in January by Muslims who accuse the government of trying to impose the moderate Al Ahbash Sufi branch of Islam, a Lebanese import mostly alien to Ethiopia.
Protesters also accuse authorities of fixing elections for the leaders of the Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs, the community's main representative body, after jailing Muslim leaders who would have participated in the vote.
Two local non-governmental organizations were also charged with "rendering support" to terrorism.
The courtroom in the Ethiopian capital was filled Monday with armed police officers alongside the 29 accused, who stood before a judge to receive the charges.
Dozens of family members and friends who could not fit inside the courtroom waited outside and cheered as the charged returned to prison on buses.
According to official figures, nearly 34 percent of Ethiopia's 83 million people are Muslim.
Ethiopia's constitution calls for a secular government and prohibits government interference in religious affairs.
This month, Ethiopia's new Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn insisted the government respects religious freedom.
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