The Waaqeffannaa Association in Victoria, Australia, has issued a powerful and urgent statement condemning the brutal killing of six Waaqeffannaa worshippers in Oromia, Ethiopia, and the destruction of a sacred prayer center. This tragic incident highlights ongoing persecution against the indigenous Oromo religion and demands immediate international attention.

Key Points from the Statement:

1. Targeted Killings:
   • Six Waaqeffannaa members were arrested by government security personnel in Aqaqi District (Oromia) on June 8, 2025, and later executed in Mogoro.
   • Victims’ Names:
     1. Gurmessa Teshome Hunde
     2. Hundessa Nannessa
     3. Dagaga Jidha Bati
     4. Lammessa Maru Gojoli
     5. Bashada Adi Midhaksa
     6. Kuma Nagoo Jambo
2. Attack on Religious Site:
   • A Waaqeffannaa prayer center in West Hararge (Hawwii Guddinaa & Daaroo Labuu District) was burned down by locals while security forces stood by.
3. Systematic Persecution:
   • The statement notes repeated attacks on Waaqeffannaa followers in Ethiopia, with no accountability.

Calls to Action:

The Waaqeffannaa Association demands:
✔ Religious organizations worldwide to condemn the killings.
✔ Oromo communities to stand in solidarity and demand justice.
✔ The Ethiopian government to prosecute the perpetrators and protect Waaqeffannaa members.
✔ UNESCO & the UN to intervene and pressure Ethiopia to investigate.

Why This Matters:

• Waaqeffannaa is the indigenous faith of the Oromo people, facing repression under Ethiopia’s government.
• Lack of media coverage suggests an intentional suppression of religious violence against non-Abrahamic faiths.
• This follows a pattern of state-backed or ignored violence against minority religions in Ethiopia.

International Response Needed:

• Human rights groups (Amnesty, HRW, UN Special Rapporteurs) must investigate.
• Diaspora Oromo & interfaith organizations should amplify the victims’ voices.
• Ethiopian authorities must be held accountable for failing to protect religious minorities.

This tragedy underscores the urgent need for global attention to the persecution of indigenous faiths in Ethiopia. Justice must be served.

#JusticeForWaaqeffannaa #StopReligiousPersecution #OromoRights

(For further updates, follow advocacy groups such as the Waaqeffannaa Global Council and Oromo human rights organizations.)