Ethiopians protest in Aotea Square
November 21, 2013
The New Zeland Herald
Teklay
Zinaw protests alongside fellow Ethiopians in New Zealand outside the
Saudi Arabian Consulate in Auckland denouncing Saudi Arabian crimes
against their people. Photo / Richard Robinson
About
100 Ethiopians gathered in Auckland’s Aotea Square this afternoon for a
lunchtime rally to protest against Saudi Arabian “crimes” against
Ethiopians.
Saudi authorities last week began a clampdown on
illegal migrant workers which led to clashes in its capital, Riyadh,
where at least five people have been killed.
“Ethiopians in Auckland hereby demand the immediate halt of the
barbaric act in general, the killings, the gang-rape and mistreatment,” a
statement distributed at the protest said.
“We are shocked by the
atrocities, cruelty, killings, rape and beatings of Ethiopian
immigrants by Saudi security forces and police-backed thugs called
shebab.”
Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom said
he had information that three Ethiopian citizens had been killed in the
clashes.
But Saudi authorities said three Saudis were among the dead, along with two foreign nationals.
The
Auckland protest was part of rallies held worldwide against the
attacks, with demonstrations in Switzerland, the UK, Norway and the US.
