127. The Complainants allege that the Respondent State specifically targeted opposition groups during the 2015 elections, resulting in arrests, injuries, and deaths. They argue that this targeted suppression of opposition leaders and their critical views violates citizens' rights to freedom of association and participation in public affairs, which violates Article 10 of the Charter. Alleged violation of Article 11 of the Charter (The right to Freedom of Assembly) 128. The Complainants allege that ahead of the 2015 National Elections, the Government unlawfully disrupted peaceful demonstrations by arbitrarily arresting protesters to dismantle opposition groups and coerce voters. According to the Complainants, in 2014, thousands of Ethiopians were arrested for participating in protests. In March of the same year, ten members of the newly formed Semayawi Party (Blue Party) were detained for chanting political slogans during a run commemorating International Women's Day despite being released after ten days without being charged. 129. The Complainants further allege that in April 2014, 20 members of the Blue Party were arrested for organizing a demonstration despite providing the required written notice to the Addis Ababa City Administration as per the Proclamation to Establish the Procedure for Peaceful Demonstration and Public Political Meeting No. 3/1991. They further contend that in April and May of the same year, security personnel fired at demonstrators in the Oromia region who were protesting against the planned expansion of Addis Ababa's municipal boundary into the Oromia region. 130. The Complainants submit that student protests also occurred in 4 university campuses in the Oromia region, which spread to neighboring towns and resulted in the deaths of 30 protesters and bystanders due to excessive force used by the security forces. 131. The Complainants raise concerns regarding the Respondent State's actions towards peaceful Muslim demonstrators. They argue that despite the Ethiopian Constitution recognizing freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, Government authorities have arrested Muslim demonstrators who protested in response to the detention of 17 Muslim leaders who were convicted by the Federal High Court for terrorism and conspiracy to establish an Islamic State in Ethiopia in 2012. The Complainants submit that these arrests are ~ 24 ~ African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North District, West Coast Region, The Gambia, Phone: (220) 230 4361 Fax: (220) 441 05 04 Email: au-banjul@africa-union.org https:/achpr.au.int/