Hundreds of followers of Ethiopia’s main Christian Orthodox church have been arrested in recent days as a result of tensions with authorities, according to lawyers representing the religious institution.
Ayalew Bitanie, the head of the church’s legal team, said there were more than 200 people detained.
The majority of the detainees were held in Addis Ababa and surrounding districts, but some were transferred to an army camp more than 200 kilometers (124 miles) east of Addis, according to Mr. Ayalew.
Among those detained are youth organizers and a popular preacher, according to Mr. Ayalew.
Some were brought to court in Addis Abeba, where police said they were looking into them for possible terrorism-related crimes and attempts to destabilize the constitutional order.
Tensions erupted after a splinter group of clergy in the country’s Oromia region appointed bishops, and the main church’s highest body accused the authorities of backing the group.
As the country prepares to host the annual African Union summit in Addis Abeba, there is an uneasy calm after the church postponed the rallies it had called.
Social media and messaging platforms such as Facebook, Telegram, and YouTube continue to be restricted.
