Muslims of Mokhe (DFWatch) TBILISI, DFWatch–There is growing tension between the Christian and Muslim communities in the small village Adigeni, west of Akhaltsikhe. The Samtskhe–Javakheti region, where Adigeni village is located, was historically known as Meskheti, after the Muslim Meskhs. […]
Jehovah’s Witnesses have been subject to a wave of violent attacks in Georgia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–In the last few years, Georgia has had a surge in discrimination against religious minorities. A new report reveals that also a silent, invisible day-to-day form of discrimination is prevalent within government institutions and among public servants. […]
Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia is planning to create a new agency that will work on religious issues. Minister of Reconciliation and Equality Paata Zakareishvili on Tuesday explained that the new body will implement a recent initiative by the government […]
A crowd of thousands led by Orthodox priests on May 17, 2013, violently disrupted a peaceful demonstration to mark the International Day Against Homophobia. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Human Rights Watch criticizes Georgia in its World Report 2014 for not having done enough to protect the rights of religious minorities and LGBT. When it comes to religious rights, the organization points out that the Muslim minority has experienced […]
Orthodox activists are against the re-erecting of a minaret in the village Chela. (Photo: Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Orthodox clerics and members of a radical religious group Thursday demonstrated in the Georgian village Chela against the restoration of a minaret on the night of November 27. The day ended without incident, and the rally was dissolved peacefully. […]
The minaret in Chela was put up at the mosque Wednesday. (Photo: Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The minaret that was taken down in a Georgian village was put back up at the mosque Wednesday night. According to the local newspaper Samkhretis Karibche (Sknews.ge), the local government in Adigeni issued a permission to restore the minaret in Chela […]
The minaret is still in storage outside Chela, while locals hope the government will solve the conflict. (DF Watch.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The conflict over a minaret that was dismantled in a small Georgian village is far from over. Locals are continuing their fight to have the minaret restored, and claim that the guarantee of freedom of religion in the Georgian Constitution supports […]
(Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–The minaret that was dismantled in southern Georgia earlier in the week and taken to Tbilisi has been returned to its village, but remains in pieces for the time being. The Revenue Service, which promised to rebuild it where it once stood […]
“Give us freedom of faith” says this poster. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–Agreement was reached by Muslim and Christian leaders in Georgia on Thursday about what to do with a minaret which was removed from a mosque earlier in the week. The Georgian Orthodox Church — the Patriarchate — and the organizations Muslims of […]
“Everybody has a right to pray”, says this poster. (Interpressnews.) TBILISI, DFWatch–On Wednesday, it seemed that a minaret which was taken down, ostensibly for tax audit purposes, would be put back up. Archil Khabadze, head of government in the Adjara region, said the minaret in Chela would be rebuilt on Thursday. Muslims had come […]
The Public Defender calls for an immediate investigation of the violence during a demonstration against the dismantling of a minaret in southern Georgia. (Samkhretis Karibche.) TBILISI, DFWatch–All the people detained while protesting against the dismantling of a minaret at a Mosque in the village Chela, in southern Georgia, have now been released. Meanwhile, the protests continue in the village and support rallies are held in the capital […]
