SA’S IS CRISIS | Ethiopian community lives in fear as IS murders mount

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“We are being deleted slowly but surely, one by one. We speak out, they kill us.”

Ahmed* looks frightened as we sit in the Fordsburg Spur on Friday after morning prayers talking about the Islamic State (IS) and its growing power in SA.

He has every right to be scared. He has survived two apparent assassination attempts — both allegedly because he and his family spoke out against IS.

In January 2019, his relative, Mohmedamin Abbaanaga Abbalabu, was shot dead in the parking lot of Mayfair Mosque as he walked out after evening prayers.

Abbalabu, a senior leader within the Ethiopian Oromo Community in SA, had for months before his murder spoken out against IS and its radicalisation of the community’s mosques.

The clothing importer was shot twice, with witnesses reporting to TimesLIVE that his killers took photographs of his body before fleeing and shooting another worshipper during their escape.

Despite the murder being investigated by the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State Unit, one of several law enforcement units conducting anti-terrorism investigations, no arrests have been made.

Ahmed said the family and those of three other Oromo community leaders, including a sheikh, who were allegedly murdered by IS followers, were terrified.

“Mohmedamin’s killers are still out there. They hate anyone who goes against them. They had tried to come into the mosque and preach their ways and get people to join them. Mohmedamin told them they were wrong. They deleted him for doing that. They shot him as he left the mosque.

“We are all afraid and scared because the government doesn’t seem to be able to stop IS. The law must do something to stop them.”

Oromo elders say their community has been brutally targeted by IS.

Along with Abbalabu, three other senior community members — Sheikh Hasan Abdalla, Abdulbasit Abba Oli and Gezahegn “Nebro” Gebremeskel — have been murdered.

Seven elders and their families have been forced to flee SA for speaking out against IS.

Abdalla was gunned down in December 2017 as he walked into Al-Taqwa mosque in Mayfair. He was the first community member and cleric to be allegedly murdered by IS.

For months before his murder he repeatedly condemned IS members for trying to radicalise the mosque.

In April 2018, Gebremeskel, who was outspoken about IS human rights abuses, was killed in Jeppestown in Johannesburg.

Oli was shot dead in his house in June 2020 after speaking out against IS at a community meeting.

Oromo community leader Abba Ayyaantu* said what was happening was “hell”.

“We are targeted because Ethiopians are seen as soft and non-confrontational. We are peace lovers and go about our own business keeping to ourselves. For this reason we are seen as easy targets.

“We are being hit hard by these people. They tax our business people. They collect over R1m a month. They say the taxes are to help them spread the word of Allah and help their brothers outside SA, but it is just extortion. They are common criminals and thieves who hide behind Islam.”

They say the taxes are to help them spread the word of Allah and help their brothers outside SA, but it is just extortion. They are common criminals and thieves who hide behind Islam.

—  An Oromo community leader

He said many of the community’s elders had spoken out against IS for targeting the youth and taking over their mosques.

“It is the reason sheikh Abdalla and Abbalabu were targeted. These people attacked our mosques in 2017 and again in 2019. Abdalla and Abbalabu fought back. They mobilised the communities to stand up against IS, but they were not strong enough.

“These guys came back with many people. They have chased our sheikhs out. They have targeted our madrasas [Islamic schools] and perverted our children’s minds.

“When sheikh Abdalla spoke out and said what they were doing was against the Koran and Hadith [record of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad and history of Islam], they deleted him. They shot him in front of the mosque. They did the same with Abbalabu.”

Ayyaantu said IS had forced seven of their prominent business leaders to flee SA.

“They refused to pay the taxes. They spoke out against IS and called for people to resist them. In retaliation their businesses were robbed, their children and wives targeted. They had no choice but to leave.”

He said while the majority of their members who had been attacked lived in Johannesburg, “others from Mpumalanga have also been assaulted by IS”.

“As a community we are afraid. IS is becoming really strong here in SA we are worried that if something is not done the situation will become worse.”

* Identities hidden for security reasons.