Turkey to restore tombs at the Nejashi mosque

(July 17, 2012, Addis Ababa)--Following the visit of Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister, Bekir Bozdağ, to Najash village in Tigray Regional State of Ethiopia, the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) has announced that it will be providing for the restoration of the tombs of Ethiopia’s Emperor Nejashi and of early Muslims who sought refuge in his kingdom after fleeing from persecution in Mecca.

The mosque of Negash in Tigray

The Emperor Nejashi who was identified as “a fair king” in the Holy Koran allowed the followers of the Prophet Mohamed to come to Ethiopia and even to proselytize the new religion of Islam. This is known in Islam as the “First Higera” and it took place in the year 615 CE.

The Emperor who allowed the followers of the Prophet to live in Ethiopia shielded them on the face of possible retribution from the then rulers of Mecca.

The incident gave Ethiopia special significance in the history of Islam. In recognition to this, the Turkish Development Agency is undertaking the restoration of the graveyard in Nejashi town.

Deputy Prime Minister Bozdağ described the restoration as a matter of honor and pride for Turkey. TICA is also going to restore the consulate the Ottoman Empire had in Harar which was also visited by Deputy Prime Minister Bozdağ.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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